Tenants often feel stressed when moving out. They should do many things to get their tenancy deposit back.
But, on the upside, you can move into your dream city and have a fresh start.
To ensure a hassle-free inventory check, we suggest starting the end-of-tenancy cleaning as soon as possible after giving your landlord the notice for the removal.
But apart from sanitizing and choosing the right movers, minor repairs might also be on your agenda. One surface in the property usually requires both cleaning and repair.
It’s the wall. It’s all the walls!
Let us help you to put them back in a presentable condition before you move out.
Equipment tip: Tools You’ll Need
Nail holes and scuffs are the top issues you might face when you reach the wall point of your end of tenancy cleaning checklist. There are easy ways to fix them.
If you don’t see any positive results from these basic repairing tricks, you might have to call a handyman for professional assistance or simply to re-paint the wall.
Here’s what you will need to eliminate the wall nail holes and the scuffs the easy way:
- For the scuffs: Try to cover them with toothpaste and a cotton swab. You can also try to eliminate them with an art gum eraser.
- For the nail holes: Fill them with some ivory soap or dab a small (bean size) amount of toothpaste. You can also try the wax crayon or candle wax approach to fill the holes.
Check Walls for Damage Twice
It’s mandatory to check the walls while sanitizing each property premise quickly.
If you see a spot or damage, don’t continue with the next room; instead, get rid of it at first. In addition, we highly recommend the tenants make a second check a day or two before the landlord’s arrival to examine the property.
If you see damage at the last moment, call the local handyman for some quick support or try any of our wall-repairing hacks.
Remove All Screws and Anchors
First, eliminate the screws that might still be there. Now you can continue with the actual repairing job.
Get your needle-nose pliers and start gripping the wall anchor edge. Take the collar and provide it with some wiggle and tug. Brush and dust the area afterward. There might be some residue of paint or cement.
Fill in Small Holes with Lightweight Joint Compound
If the holes are tiny, you might find no difficulties getting rid of them, respectively, in getting your tenancy deposit back.
For this purpose, you will need a putty knife. Use it to fill the holes with some reliable wall joint compound. Spackling is also ok for this chore.
You will have to sand the area afterward, but ensure it’s 100% dry before that.
Sand the Area when Needed
Sanding is usually a must. When you fill in holes or deal with other wall damages, the surface becomes rough and not neat.
Depending on the dullness and the size of the uneven zone, choose what to use – some sandpaper or a whole sanding block. When the surface is ready, don’t rush to have some rest.
First, dust and wipe out carefully. This procedure is applicable to cases when nothing works to fix the wall damage, and painting is a must. Sanding the wall before applying the paint will double your chances for great final results.
Spackle The Holes Precisely
Those little dings and dents, as well as the unpleasant gouges that will pore your landlord’s eyes out, should be handled, too.
If you are looking for a fast way to fix these wall imperfections, try the spackle compound method. To avoid any omissions, please, don’t forget to get rid of the excess compound left on the wall.
Erase Scuff Marks Through This Bargain Recipe
Everyone’s got at least one scuff mark on the wall! And everyone’s got at least a pinch of baking soda in the kitchen cabinet.
Try to find a small amount of sodium bicarbonate and mix it with water. Then, with this freshly made paste remove the scuff marks from the walls. No need for a handyman or painting! Just a couple of pennies spent, and you get the wall as clean as a whistle again.
If Nothing Works, Paint Over
Sorry to tell you, but no matter how efficient these wall hole and scuff methods are, sometimes they just don’t work.
There might be a possibility to lighten the damage, but yet to leave it visible for the landlord’s critical eyes. In both cases, handle some quick re-painting.
Find the same paint shade in the store, but if you can’t, consult with your landlord in advance about what nuance he prefers.
Hire a Professional Cleaning Company
Do all of these now sound quite difficult or time-wasting to you? Don’t worry–you don’t have to handle the entire removal alone, even if you know how to clean your entire home in half the time.
Many professionals are waiting for you to call them to give you a hand with a hassle-free inventory check. Hiring a professional moving or end of tenancy cleaning company is the most efficient way to guarantee your tenancy deposit return.
The technicians know even more about hacks for removing nail holes or scuffs. We must mention that many British companies don’t include wall cleaning and wall repairs in their common end-of-lease cleaning service. You might need to book an extra wall cleaning service.
In all cases, remember to mention the wall issues to the cleaners so that they can offer you the best solution.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, more and more tenants complain about not getting their tenancy deposit back. It’s a trend that about 50% of them have failed during the wall inspection.
Wiping out the dirt from the rest of the property’s surfaces is easier than dealing with stubborn wall damage.
Putting in more effort or using the assistance of a professional team is the right way to deal with this tenant’s responsibility.
