Out of all the activities people do in their apartments, cleaning isn’t everyone’s favorite. But making the effort to tidy up has its advantages. An organized home can improve your health, mood, and confidence. It’s also easier to maneuver around in and is more presentable to guests. But how renters should approach cleaning their rental properties in Florida varies based on whether they are moving in, moving out, or in the middle of their rental terms. But no matter where you're at in the rental cycle, follow this guide to help make your apartment sparkling clean.
A good property manager will take care of the cleaning before the new tenants move in. For many renters, the day they move in is the day they see their apartments in the cleanest state. But just in case there’s room for improvement at your new home, proceed with an inspection of each room.
Before you move everything into your new home, make sure it’s as clean as can be. Check each room for dust — don’t forget the window seals and fan blades — as well as for fallen tacks or screws and other debris left by the past tenants. If your unit is furnished, which most student apartments for rent in Gainesville are, you also should inspect between the couch cushions, under the bed, and around any other furniture.
Even if your new apartment in Gainesville is sparkling clean, take this opportunity to stock up on cleaning supplies. A duster, microfiber cloths, and all-purpose cleaning spray will always come in handy. A compact vacuum also fits nicely into any closet and is capable of cleaning the whole apartment; but make sure it works on your style of floors (wood, tile, carpet, etc.).
A regular cleaning schedule will help you maintain a tidy home throughout the year. A good cleaning regimen should account for every room but also emphasize those areas that tend to have the biggest messes: the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. How often you clean depends on the number of people in the home and their propensities for disorganization. Retired couples may need to clean up less often than students who share off campus apartments near UF. (Ironically, the couple probably clean more often than the students, but you get the idea.)
It’s important to leave your apartment in good condition when you move out so you can get back as much of the security deposit as possible. To do this, you’ll want to perform a final deep clean as well as check the rental contract for its move-out criteria.
Deep cleaning involves focusing on every detail of the apartment, no matter how big or small. The goal is to have your apartment meet the property manager’s expectations. Start by packing up your belongings and moving them outside, so the unit is as empty as possible. Pick up lingering trash and debris, and then sweep or vacuum each room before a final wipedown. Use a duster or vacuum attachment to get into hard-to-reach crevices around appliances, cabinets, and closets. And don’t forget to remove any pins from the walls and to fill in the holes with spackle. Also, spraying a little bit of deodorizing aerosol spray goes a long way toward refreshing the interior atmosphere.
Your rental contract outlines the condition in which the apartment should be left and which steps you should take to get it there. For example, the contracts for most family homes and student housing in Gainesville require the tenants to have the carpets professionally steam cleaned. The property manager will perform a final inspection to confirm that you’ve met the terms of the contract. Any steps that are not completed may result in deductions from your deposit, so read carefully!
Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP, knows that a clean apartment is a happy home. Our apartments for rent in Gainesville are well-maintained and meticulously cleaned before new tenants move into them. Whether you're looking for luxury townhomes or modern student apartments, you’ll find the same clean and orderly conditions apply to all our rental properties. Contact us today to learn more!