Moving out?
Finals are nearing, summer is close and you can kiss your roommates goodbye. But the semester isn’t over after finals. The last thing to do is to move out. And moving out of apartments in college isn’t that easy – it can take a lot of time. Sure, iPods are small and easy to pack, and renting a U-Haul may not even be in order, but there are important things to check off of a moving-out list that the average student may not know about:
Turning off utilities:
The person whose name is on the bill needs to call Logan City Utilities at 716-9200. LynAnn Smith, senior customer service clerk, said to call no more than two days before moving out. Since most students paid an initial $100 utility billing deposit, this amount will be used for the final utility bill. Any remaining amount will be mailed to the person whose name is on the bill.
“That deposit ensures that Logan city gets paid the final bill. The deposit person whose name is on the bill, we need to have a forwarding address for them,” Smith said.
If an outstanding bill is not paid by the due date of the final bill, Smith said it will be sent directly to collections.
Changing addresses:
Forwarding personal mail can be taken care of by filling out a change of address form. Often times, these forms can be found in main apartment areas such as clubhouses, laundry rooms or mail rooms. Change of address forms can also be picked up on campus or at any local post office. This form has a place for filling out the exact date to begin forwarding your mail from the old apartment to the new location. Also, make sure to contact any magazines or newspapers to inform them of any address change. Addresses can also be updated and changed online at moversguide.usps.com.
Canceling cable bill:
The person whose name is on the cable bill should call the cable company to cancel service. Before canceling, inquire about possible early cancellation fees or penalties. If continuing cable service, call the company to notify them of a forwarding billing address if necessary.
Ryan Bates, a senior in exercise science, said Oakridge takes care of cable, gas and utility bill canceling since the complex pays their residents’ bills each month anyway.
“It’s a perk about living here, you don’t have to worry about all this,” the Oakridge employee said.
For most complexes, however, canceling these bills is up to the resident.
Turning off the gas:
Contact the gas company to ensure the gas will be turned off after moving out. If the gas company is not contacted to turn gas usage off, the gas bill will go unpaid and could possibly go to collections. The name on the bill will be charged for any future gas charges not taken care of. Consequently, the person whose name is on the gas bill should call the gas company to shut off gas since they may be the main party legally representing the apartment. Like utilities, calling in a moving-out date a week or two before may help ensure everything runs smoothly.
Cleaning checks:
A cleaning check can often be the most important thing to do before leaving. Each roommate is usually assigned to deep clean a particular part of their apartment. Leaving this responsibility to the last minute can make life pretty difficult since proper deep cleaning takes a good amount of time.
Missy Ryan, manager of Old Farm apartments, said students most often forget to clean everywhere, especially in the small spaces. If a student fails his or her cleaning check, money from that student’s deposit may be taken out to pay someone else to clean the area.
Cleaning checks usually require heavy-duty cleansers. Ryan said to check with the apartment managers before buying cleaners – some managers already have heavy-duty products for use. Products such as a floor stripper and wax are available in Old Farm’s office during this time. and Ryan said the products can be bought by the cup. Buying products through the office can save a trip into town.
Check balances:
Most apartment complexes keep a current balance of any money a student might owe before leaving. Sometimes a student can forget a random item charged to them such as paying for a lock-out or paying for the last month of rent. Make sure to call the main apartment office well in advance to clear balances before leaving.
Oakridge, for example, requires any unpaid balances to be taken care of the day you turn in your key, Bates said. If residents do not realize they have an outstanding balance to pay, Bates said this can often be a surprise for some and an inconvenience. If the balance is not paid that day, he said the bill has the possibility of being sent to collections. Calling before moving out of the complex may help avoid added stress.
Returning parking permits:
Apartment complexes differ on preferred ways to return a parking permit. Most managers, however, require an apartment key and a parking permit to be turned in at the same time before leaving. This step is usually the last and may easily be forgotten in the process of packing. A few weeks before the semester ends, Ryan said Old Farm sends out letters to each apartment that discuss the consequences of not turning in parking permits and keys. Besides being fined, Ryan said students’ initial deposits will not be given back until the materials are turned in. Oakridge apartments do not require parking permits to be returned since Bates said new permits are issued each year.
Make sure to check with apartment managers since policies can differ. Also, be aware of correspondence from the managers left on your doors a few weeks before the end of the semester.
-britg@cc.usu.edu