PROPER MOVE-OUT PROCEDURES:

In order to receive a full refund of your security deposit, you must follow all of these procedures. 

• Fulfill the complete term of your current lease contract or provide military PPCS, ETS, or deployment orders.

• Give a 30-day, written notice on our prepared form to our office no later than the 1st of the month you intend to move out. Using our form will ensure that the notice was received and that it was approved. 

• Pay all rent and other charges through the end of the month you are moving out. Rent is not pro-rated upon move out.

• Remove all of your personal belongings from the property and follow all of the cleaning instructions provided on this notice. Any items left in the property will be considered trash and thrown away at your expense. We are not responsible for any items left inside or outside the property. You may not occupy the property once the inspection is complete. 

• Keys and receipts must be returned to our office on the date you are scheduled to move out. A move out appointment is not required, but if you prefer to schedule one, please call our office and notify us at least 72 hours prior to your move out date (We do not do pre-move-out inspections, appts are not conducted on weekends and no appts at the end of the month or the first 3 business days in the following month due to high volume of move-outs.)  Inspections are not conducted on weekends. Your keys will need to be turned in at the time of your inspection. During a scheduled inspection the inspector will not be able to provide any information about your security deposit. A statement will be mailed to the forwarding address that you provide on your move-out notice no later than 30 days from the date you turn in your keys. Charges are determined based on the Move-In Inventory & Condition form you were provided at the time of your move-in. A re-inspection fee and an additional month’s rent will be charged if you are not prepared or have not vacated the property upon the move-out date that you provided us. 

• All utilities (water, gas, and electricity) must be on for five (5) business days starting the day after you turn in keys, not including Sat/Sun and holidays. If utilities are needed for repairs or cleaning at the time of inspection, Lone Star Realty will immediately turn utilities on in Lone Star Realty’s name. This will ensure no drop-in service occurs while those repairs are completed by outside vendors. The tenant will automatically be charged $50 for water, $100 for electricity, and all usage charges.

• Provide our office with a complete forwarding address, in writing. It is your responsibility to have your mail forwarded to your new address with the U.S. Post Office.  (roommates, please refer to your lease in reference to security deposit refunds.) Refund checks will not be processed without a forwarding address. There will be a $35.00 fee for requests to stop payment on a refund check to re-print/re-send another. 

•  To avoid additional charges, return all keys/devices; this includes the mailbox key and any garage door openers, alarm remotes, or ceiling fan remotes and any receipts to our office. If keys are not returned, you will be responsible for the cost of a re-key.
  
  Clean property as required below. (Note: Your trash container must be empty to avoid the $20.00 charge)

MOVE-OUT CLEANING REQUIREMENTS:

Cleaning Requirements for a Successful Move-Out Inspection

1. Refrigerator: Clean thoroughly the inside and outside. Clean both sides of all racks, drawers, and the drain pan. Be careful when pulling out the refrigerator to avoid damaging the floor (to clean and unplug). To prevent damage to the compressor, turn the temperature down to the lowest setting for 30 min prior to unplugging it. Leave the doors open to prevent mold and mildew. ( Note: a new water filter is required for all side by side refrigerators)

2. Vent Hood: Clean all surfaces to remove grease, food & any burned particles. Remove, clean, and re-install the filter. If the charcoal filter cannot be cleaned, replace it with a new one. Built-in microwaves will need to be cleaned underneath, this is where you will find the vent filter.

3. Range/Stove: Clean all surfaces to remove grease, food & any burned particles. Thoroughly clean the inside, top, sides, burners, knobs (removable on most models), broiler/drawer, and oven racks. You will need to lift up the burner top to properly clean the underneath of the burners/sides. DO NOT use oven cleaner on the outside of the stove, the chemicals will remove the paint. If you use an oven cleaner, make sure you rinse it off completely; white residue left is not acceptable. We also recommend you use newspapers to line the floor and under the stove to prevent the floor from being damaged by the chemicals. DO NOT use any oven cleaner on self-cleaning ovens. All drip pans must be replaced with new ones. Please pull the stove away from the wall and clean behind it, please leave the stove pulled out before inspection.

4. Dishwasher: Run through the entire cycle first. Remove debris and wipe inside surfaces. Pay special attention to the inside lip of the dishwasher and the outside trim/knobs. Clean and polish the front panel.

5. Sinks: Scrub & clean sinks with the appropriate cleaner. Clean garbage disposal gasket, run a cycle to clear out any debris left in disposal. Sink drain covers or strainers need to be left in the sink and cleaned. Polish faucet set. Make sure to clean the sprayer (if applicable), this might require a cleaner to remove hard water build-up. 

6. Cabinets & Drawers: Remove all food particles and items. Wash all the shelves and interior surfaces to include the countertops and cabinet fronts. Remove any shelf liner or bug traps inside the cabinets/drawers. Polish all exterior wood cabinetry.

7. Bathtub/Shower: Thoroughly clean shower surround, tub/shower surround, inside/outside tub from any soap scum/mildew. Polish the faucets & drains. The tub stopper should be cleaned and left in the tub.

8. Toilet: Clean and disinfect all surfaces from floor to top, including underneath the seat rim. If the toilet seat underneath is stained, replace it.

9. Mirror: Clean with glass cleaner, remove all streaks.

10. Medicine Cabinet & Other Bathroom Fixtures: Clean the towel racks, toilet paper holder, and any other fixture. The medicine cabinet should be cleaned inside/outside. 

11. Floors: Appropriately sweep and mop cleaned and disinfected.

12. Carpets: Vacuum floors. A professional carpet cleaning company must clean all carpets. If cleaning is not sufficient; dirt, stains, odor, hair, pet urine odor, or any debris remains, the tenant will be charged for additional carpet cleaning by a carpet technician deemed qualified by Lone Star Realty & Property Management, Inc. You must provide a receipt from the company that cleaned your carpet on the day you turn in keys. Carpets have to be cleaned within 72 hours of turning in your keys. Providing a receipt does not guarantee you passed the carpet cleaning. If you choose to schedule a move-out inspection, carpets must be cleaned 24 hours prior to the appointment date. Rented carpet cleaning machines will not be accepted or any handwritten receipts. If you had a pet at any time, the carpets must be pet deodorized by the carpet company and include pet enzyme. (We highly recommend you choose one of the vendors listed below.)

13. Walls: Clean all walls; around light switches, along with door moldings, and the baseboards. Remove nails and do not fill holes. Excessive or large holes will incur a charge to repair them. If you smoke, wash all walls.

14. Closets: Remove all items and clean shelves. Do not leave any hangers. Clean walls and floor.

15. Windows: Clean the inside/outside of 1st-floor windows and inside of any 2nd level windows. Screens must be cleaned also.

16. Mini-Blinds/Screens: Spray the mini-blinds with cleaner and wash the bathtub. If they are greasy or stained from nicotine and cannot be cleaned, you will need to replace them. If the slats are bent/broken from your occupancy, you will need to replace them. Screens that are cut/broken/bent from your occupancy will be charged to you.

17. Light Fixtures & Ceiling Fans: Remove the globe and clean to remove dirt, dust, grease, and any bugs, then reattach. Replace any missing or burnt-out bulbs. All light fixtures (inside & outside) must have working bulbs (60w). Make sure ceiling fan blades are cleaned, top and bottom.

18. Smoke Detectors: Provide a new 9-volt battery (keep in package) for each smoke detector. Place on the counter.

19. A/C Filter: Replace the A/C Filter with a new one. Clean the return vents from any dust build-up.

20. Patios/Walk-ways & Garages: Remove all items and sweep the floor. Place grease absorbent on any grease spills in the garage or on the driveway. Any grease/spills that are left will be removed at the tenant’s expense. Vehicles left will be towed at your expense.

21. Lawn: Grass must be recently cut and weeded, to include edging/weed eating under porches and flowerbeds. Bushes/Shrubs to be trimmed back neatly. All trash must be picked up from around the property. If you had/have a pet, all droppings must be picked up.

22. Pest Control: You are required to have the property professionally sprayed for fleas upon move out if you had or have a pet. If a receipt is not provided, we will have this service completed at your expense. Carpets must be cleaned before this treatment is conducted. You will be responsible for the cost of pest control service if pests are found in the property at the time of move out (roaches, fleas, ticks) (Note: receipts for treatment will not be accepted after you have turned in the keys)

23. Fireplace: Must have all ash removed and cleaned. The screen should be free of dust build-up, glass doors should be streak-free.

24. Re-Inspection Fee: You will be charged a re-inspection fee if you (a)fail any part of the inspection that requires a contractor/vendor to come out to perform a service you were responsible for  (b) if you are not ready at the time of your scheduled inspection or if utilities are not on at the time of the inspection. (c) if the utilities are not on at the time of the inspection; all of which would require an inspector to return and re-inspect the property.

25.  Trash Removal: If there is excessive trash left inside the property or at the curb, you will be charged to have the items removed. The city you live in will charge for a bulk pick-up from the curb and you will be charged. 

24. Receipts: Lone Star will not accept receipts via e-mail, fax, or after your keys are turned in. Make sure you Turn in all of your receipts. 

Vendor List:

Carpet Cleaning:
Epic (254) 317-3860
Centex Cleaning (254) 953-1524

Pest Control:
Ameritech Pest Control (254) 526-6631
Killeen Pest Control (254) 634-2646