Leave Your Community on Good Terms

When you move out of your apartment, you want to leave it looking as clean as when you first moved in. A clean, well-kept apartment will also help you get your full security deposit returned to you with few deductions.

4) Report repairs immediately. If repairs are needed in your apartment, report them to the landlord as soon as they occur. Do not wait until after you move out to report the damages because the landlord can and will charge you for them.

5) Be respectful of your neighbors. Keep noise levels down at all times, especially with stereos and TVs. Noise does tend to carry, especially in high-rise buildings. You might think that the volume on your stereo is reasonable, but if a neighbor can hear it too, it's probably too loud.

Similarly, if you have pets, be sure to clean up after them and be prepared to pay for any damages that they might have generated.

6) Resolve disputes quickly and amicably. While there may be times when you do not agree with the landlord's rules, you need to act reasonably. If you have a dispute, explain your situation calmly and provide evidence to support your cause. The landlord does have rules for the community that everyone must follow and they generally do not make exceptions -- unless they are given a good reason. You may have to make a strong compelling case to win your dispute. Try to resolve it as quickly as possible without going outside to a third party. That approach can be more costly and time consuming, and may not bring you the results you want.

7) Send a thank you note to your landlord or apartment manager. This may seem corny and old-fashioned to some, but this simple expression of gratitude does leave behind a feeling of good will. It may not erase any old unresolved issues, but it presents you as a classy, mature resident.

Perhaps the most important suggestion of all:

8) Obtain a copy of your credit report before you even begin shopping for a house or a mortgage. If there are any discrepancies in the credit report, you have time to clear them up before putting money down on a new house.

There are plenty of sites on the Internet where you can obtain a free credit report, such as www.consumerinfo.com and E-credit report.com. Equifax (www.equifax.com) and Transunion (www.transunion.com) are also good sources for information

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