Amidst the whirlwind of packing boxes and dreaming about your new space, preparing your current home for a move out often takes a backseat. However, these final tasks mark the difference between a chaotic exit and a smooth one. Whether you’re a renter ending your tenancy agreement or hoping to reclaim your security deposit or a homeowner maintaining your property’s value for the buyer, these eight essential jobs deserve your attention before you hand over the keys.
Deep Clean the Entire House
Why It’s Important
A thorough clean transforms your lived-in space into a welcoming environment for its next occupants. Beyond the satisfaction of leaving a spotless home, as tenant it’s part of ending your tenancy agreement, most agents will also require you to use professional cleaning services but if you have the time to tackle this house job on your own it’ll definitely be money better spent on your new adventure.
Key Areas to Focus On
The kitchen demands special attention as it’s often the grimiest space. Start with the oven – that baked-on lasagna from three months ago won’t clean itself. Empty the refrigerator, removing all drawers and shelves for a proper scrub. Pull out appliances to tackle hidden dust bunnies and forgotten spills.
In bathrooms, spray cleaners need time to work their magic on stubborn soap scum and mineral deposits. While they sit, tackle the often-overlooked spots: baseboards, window tracks, and those mysterious spots behind toilets.
- Kitchen Deep Dive: Remove grease from hood vents, sanitise trash bins, descale coffee makers
- Bathroom Battle: Scrub grout lines, polish mirrors, clean exhaust fans
- Floor Finale: Steam clean carpets, restore hardwood shine, clean under radiators
Tip: Start cleaning rooms furthest from your main exit, working your way toward the door. This prevents tracking dirt through already-cleaned areas.
Patch and Paint Walls
Why It’s Important
Those walls tell stories of your time there – from enthusiastically hung art galleries to that time you accidentally bumped the couch while moving it. While memories are precious, visible damage isn’t. Small repairs make a massive difference in the overall impression of your space.
Steps to Follow
Take a methodical approach to wall repairs. Fill holes with appropriate materials – tiny nail holes need spackling compound, while larger dents require proper drywall patching. Sand each repair until it blends seamlessly with the surrounding wall. When painting, don’t skip the primer on patched areas – it prevents the dreaded “spotting” effect where repairs show through the final coat.
- Clean walls before painting to ensure proper adhesion
- Use painter’s tape for clean edges around trim and windows
- Match existing paint sheen as well as colour
Declutter and Donate Unwanted Items
Why It’s Important
Moving offers a golden opportunity to lighten your load through decluttering. While this house job can be a timely process it can be therapeutic as well before moving out. Each item you own demands time to pack, space to transport, and energy to unpack. By streamlining your possessions, you’re actually saving on the overall cost of hiring professional removalists as the time to move will be much quicker.
Start in low-emotional-investment areas like the garage or storage closets. These spaces often harbor forgotten items that are easier to evaluate objectively. Work your way toward more personal spaces, making thoughtful decisions about what deserves a spot in your next chapter.
Systematic Sorting
Create a staging area with distinct zones for different actions:
- Keep (love it, use it, need it)
- Donate (good condition but no longer serves you)
- Sell (valuable items worth the effort)
- Recycle/Trash (be honest about what’s truly at the end of its life)
Pack with Purpose
Why It’s Important
Strategic packing prevents the dreaded “box mountain” in your new home and protects your belongings during the move. This isn’t about getting things into boxes – it’s about making packing less stressful when moving home and saving you the frustration so you can find and access what you need when you need it.
Smart Strategies
Develop a room-by-room packing system. Create detailed inventories for each box, using a numbering system that includes the room and box number (e.g., K1 for Kitchen Box 1). Keep this list digital – spreadsheets are your friend here.
Pack a “First Week” box for each room containing essential items you’ll need immediately:
- Kitchen: Coffee maker, basic utensils, couple of pots/pans
- Bathroom: Shower curtain, toilet paper, essential toiletries
- Bedroom: Fresh sheets, basic clothing, phone chargers
Utility and Service Transitions
Schedule utility transfers at least two weeks before your move. Create a master list of all services requiring updates:
- Essential utilities (water, gas, electric)
- Communication services (internet, phone)
- Subscription deliveries
- Regular maintenance services
Handle Hazardous Materials
Why It’s Important
Proper disposal of hazardous items protects both the environment and future residents. Many common household items contain chemicals that shouldn’t end up in regular trash or, worse, poured down drains.
Smart Disposal
Different materials require different disposal methods. Paint often can be donated to local theatres or schools if still usable. For chemicals, many communities host hazardous waste collection days. Electronic waste – from old phones to defunct printers – deserves special handling to protect personal data and recyclable components.
Create a disposal station in your garage:
- Collection bins for different categories of waste
- Clear labels for hazardous items
- Printout of local disposal facility hours and requirements
Property Inspection
Why It’s Important
A thorough inspection protects you from surprise charges and ensures you’ve met all lease or sale requirements. This step often reveals minor issues you’ve learned to live with but should address before departure.
Inspection Strategy
Walk through each room with fresh eyes – pretend you’re a picky property manager. Test every switch, tap, and mechanism. Document everything meticulously:
- Run all faucets checking for leaks or drips
- Open and close windows, testing locks and screens
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
- Check appliance functions, including less-used settings
Take photos and videos of repaired items and general condition. Time-stamp these records for extra protection against future disputes.
Outdoor Area Excellence
Why It’s Important
Curb appeal matters even when leaving. A well-maintained exterior shows respect for the neighbourhood and, for sellers, supports property values. For renters, it demonstrates responsibility that could boost reference quality.
Comprehensive Care
Address the outdoor space methodically:
- Prune overgrown plants away from structures
- Clear gutters and downspouts
- Fix any loose pavers or wobbly fence posts
- Remove personal items or temporary structures
A Smooth Exit is a Happy Exit
Making sure to tackle the 8 house jobs before moving out will give you peace of mind during the final move out. These tasks, while demanding, create positive closure for your time in this space. By addressing each area thoroughly, you’re not just protecting your deposit or sale price – you’re setting up the next occupants for success while clearing the way for your new beginning.
Remember to pace yourself. Start these tasks several weeks before moving day, tackling them in order of complexity. Keep cleaning supplies accessible until the final walk-through, and maintain a running checklist of completed tasks.
Your attention to detail now prevents stress later. Plus, the satisfaction of leaving a space better than you found it? Priceless. Now, grab those cleaning supplies and let’s make this move memorable for all the right reasons.
