Tips for filling out your apartment inventory checklist when you move into a new place

When you first take possession of a new apartment, your landlord will likely give you an apartment inventory checklist to fill out. It'll look something like this or like this.

You'll want to fill out the inventory checklist -- noting the condition of each item listed -- as thoroughly as possible. Taking the time now, when you first move in, to note all pre-existing damages in your apartment will save you money later, when your landlord adds up your security deposit deductions for damages as you move out.

For more tips, read "How to Fill Out Your Apartment Inventory Checklist," published today alongside all my previously published landlord-tenant articles at Associated Content.

Congrats on your new apartment!



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Outrageous security deposit deductions for cleaning? Here's where to turn for help.

Rent apartments long enough and chances are good you'll eventually run into a landlord who nickle-and-dimes you out of your security deposit with outrageous, exorbitant cleaning fees after you've moved out.

Sure, sometimes security deposit cleaning deductions are justified. If you didn't return your apartment to move-in condition when you moved out, expect your landlord to recoup his cleaning costs for the next tenant out of your security deposit. However, if you think your landlord charged you in excess of what it actually cost him or her to clean your apartment, you may have options to recoup some of the money.

Read "How to Dispute Outrageous Security Deposit Cleaning Deductions" for some advice on where to turn for help.



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The inside dirt on security deposit cleaning deductions

What good is reading this blog, you might ask, if you never get any inside scoop?

Good question.

So to reward you for your patience and loyalty, take a look here for some inside "dirt" on security deposit deductions that tenants might incur if they leave apartments excessively dirty upon move-out.

Leaving Your Apartment This Dirty? Say Bye to Security Deposit Money is a slide show featuring never-before-seen (i.e. from my private collection) actual photos of some rather dirty conditions outgoing tenants left behind in apartments when they moved out.

Each photo is accompanied by an explanation of cleaning charges that were deducted from a tenant's security deposit or some tips to tackle those impossible-to-clean apartment areas and avoid incurring excessive cleaning charges yourself.

Enjoy! But be warned: A few of the photos are pretty gross.



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