Moving out of an apartment is not just moving day. It is a process that starts about two months before you hand back the keys — and the steps you take early decide whether you get your deposit back, avoid extra charges, and leave on good terms with your landlord.
This apartment move-out checklist covers what to do when moving out of an apartment, in order, from 60 days before moving day to the week after. For more practical rental advice, browse our Apartment Guides.
TL;DR: How to Move Out of an Apartment
- Start 60 days before moving day. Read your lease, check the notice period, and give written notice on time.
- Give notice in writing — include your move-out date and forwarding address, and keep a copy.
- Declutter before you pack. Keep, sell, donate or toss — every box you do not move saves money and time.
- Pack non-essentials first, label every box by room, and keep documents, medicines and valuables with you.
- Clean room by room and fix small damage before the final walkthrough, not after it.
- Photograph the empty, cleaned apartment on moving day, and return every key, fob and remote with a written receipt.
- Transfer utilities, change your address, and set up mail forwarding within the first week.
- Watch for final bills and the deposit accounting after you move out.
Your Move-Out Timeline at a Glance
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 60 days before | Read the lease, confirm the end date and notice period, start decluttering |
| 30 days before | Give written notice to vacate, set a moving budget, book movers |
| 2–3 weeks before | Pack non-essentials, make small repairs, transfer or cancel utilities |
| The week of the move | Confirm movers, finish packing and cleaning, schedule the final walkthrough |
| Moving day | Pack an overnight bag, photograph the empty unit, return keys with a receipt |
| After moving | Change your address, set up mail forwarding, check final bills and deposit |
60 Days Before: Read the Lease and Start Decluttering
Check your lease end date and notice period
Before you do anything else, read your lease. Find the end date, the notice period, and any move-out rules. Notice periods are usually 30 days, but some leases require 60 or even 90 days, and some switch to month-to-month automatically if you do not give notice in time. Missing the deadline can mean paying an extra month of rent, so put the notice date in your calendar the day you decide to move.
Also check for a move-out fee, cleaning expectations, and rules about the final walkthrough. If you are leaving early, check whether a break fee applies.
Start decluttering — keep, sell, donate, toss
Decluttering is the most useful early job in any moving out checklist: everything you get rid of now is one less thing to pack, carry and unpack. Go room by room with four piles: keep, sell, donate and toss. Be honest about what you have not used in a year. Sell anything worth the effort, donate what is still usable, and throw away or recycle what is broken.
If you are moving into a new apartment, our guide on how to move into an apartment covers the first-night box and the order to set things up — but that comes later. Right now, the job is to make the move smaller.
30 Days Before: Give Notice and Book the Move
Give written notice to vacate
A notice to vacate apartment letter does not need to be long, but it does need to be written. A phone call or a chat message is not enough — if there is ever a dispute about when you gave notice, you need proof.
Send it by email and, if your lease asks for it, by certified mail as well. Include your name, the apartment address, your move-out date, your forwarding address, and a request for the final walkthrough. Keep a copy and the delivery confirmation.
Give notice on the date your lease requires. If the lease says 30 days, give at least 30 days — a few days early costs nothing and protects you if the landlord counts the days differently.
Set a moving budget and book movers
Write down the moving costs before you book anything: movers or a truck, packing supplies, cleaning supplies, the deposit and first month’s rent on the new place, and a buffer for surprises. A local move with professional movers often costs a few hundred dollars, and prices rise at the end of the month and on weekends.
Get two or three quotes from licensed movers and check reviews, not price alone. Ask what is included: packing, disassembly, stairs and insurance. Book 10–15 days before moving day at the latest — earlier for end-of-month, weekend or summer moves.
Ask for a pre-move-out inspection
Many landlords will do a pre-move-out inspection if you ask — a walkthrough a week or two before moving day, where they point out what needs fixing or cleaning. Ask for one in your notice email. It tells you exactly what the landlord will look for at the final walkthrough, while you still have time to fix it.
2–3 Weeks Before: Pack, Repair and Sort the Admin
Pack non-essentials first
Start with what you will not need for the next few weeks: books, out-of-season clothes, spare linens, decorations and anything in storage. Pack room by room and label every box on two sides with the room and a short list of what is inside.
Use small boxes for heavy things like books and large boxes for light things like bedding. Wrap fragile items individually, fill gaps with towels, and mark fragile boxes clearly. Photograph cable setups behind the TV and computer before you unplug anything.
Keep one bag for the things that travel with you personally: your lease, ID, keys, wallet, medicines, laptop and valuables. Do not put those on the truck.
Make small repairs
Walk through the apartment with a notepad. Fill small nail holes, touch up scuffs with matching paint if your lease allows it, replace burnt-out light bulbs, tighten loose handles, and clean the oven and fridge. Small fixes now are cheap; the same jobs billed by a landlord after you leave are not.
Do not attempt repairs that are the landlord’s responsibility, such as broken appliances or plumbing. Report those in writing instead, and keep a copy. For what a landlord can and cannot deduct, see our guide on how to get your security deposit back.
Transfer or cancel utilities
Two to three weeks before moving day, contact your utility providers and arrange the switch. Electricity, gas, water and internet should stay on through moving day and the final clean, then transfer or be cancelled. Take meter readings on your last day and photograph them.
At the same time, update your renters insurance: cancel the policy on the old apartment and start one for the new place, so there is no gap in cover.
Change your address and set up mail forwarding
Set up mail forwarding with the post office now, so it starts on moving day, and start updating your address with your bank, employer, doctor, car insurance, voter registration and subscriptions. Work through the list in one sitting — it takes less than an hour.
The Week of the Move: Confirm, Clean and Schedule the Walkthrough
Confirm the movers, the truck, the parking and the key collection time for the new place. Confirm the final walkthrough time with your landlord.
Finish packing room by room, leaving only what you need for the last few days. Then clean as each room empties — it is far easier to clean an empty room than one full of boxes. Wipe cupboards and worktops, clean the bathroom, vacuum and mop the floors. For a full room-by-room routine, follow how to clean an apartment.
Moving Day: The Final Walkthrough and the Keys
Pack an overnight bag
Pack a first-night or overnight bag and keep it with you, not on the truck: bedding and a pillow, towels, toilet paper, soap, a phone charger, a lamp, cleaning supplies, a change of clothes, medicines, snacks and money for takeout.
Photograph the empty, cleaned apartment
Once the truck is loaded and the apartment is empty and clean, walk through every room with your phone and photograph everything: walls, floors, windows, doors, appliances, taps and cupboards. Open every cupboard and drawer and check behind doors before you lock up. These photos are your proof of the condition you left the apartment in.
Return keys, fobs and remotes — and get a receipt
Return everything the landlord gave you: all keys, fobs, remotes, parking passes and mailbox keys. Count them against the list in your lease or move-in inventory, and get a written receipt that says what you returned and when. Do not just drop them through a letterbox without proof.
The Final Walkthrough: What the Landlord Checks
The move-out inspection, or final walkthrough, is usually a short visit where the landlord or agent walks through the empty apartment with you and notes its condition against the move-in inspection. It normally covers walls and floors, windows and doors, appliances, taps and toilets, and whether the apartment is clean and empty.
Be there if you can. Walk through with them, point out anything you repaired, and ask them to note anything they think still needs work. If you disagree with a note, say so politely and take your own photo of the same spot. Ask for a copy of the signed walkthrough form before you leave.
After You Move Out: Final Bills and Your Deposit
Moving out does not end on moving day. In the first week, check that your mail forwarding is working, confirm the utilities have switched over, and finish the address changes you started earlier.
Then watch for two things: final bills and the deposit accounting. Final bills can include a last utility statement, a cleaning charge or a repair charge. Read each one, compare it with your lease and your walkthrough photos, and query anything you do not recognise in writing.
Deadlines for returning the deposit vary by state, and the landlord must usually send an itemized statement explaining any deductions, with receipts. For the full process, see how to get your security deposit back.
If you are still looking for your next place, read how to find an apartment before you sign.
FAQ: How to Move Out of an Apartment
How much notice do I need to give to move out?
It depends on your lease — usually 30 days, sometimes 60 or 90. Check the lease, give notice in writing by the deadline, and keep proof.
What should I do first when moving out of an apartment?
Read your lease first, then give written notice with your move-out date and forwarding address. After that, declutter, set a moving budget and book movers.
What do I need to clean before moving out?
Clean every room as it empties: kitchen cupboards, worktops, hob and oven, fridge, bathroom, floors and window sills. Leave the apartment clean and empty, with small repairs done.
What should I photograph when moving out?
Photograph every room once it is empty and clean — walls, floors, windows, doors, appliances and taps — plus the inside of every cupboard. Send the photos to your landlord the same day.
How do I return keys to my landlord?
Return all keys, fobs, remotes and parking passes in person if you can, and get a written receipt saying what you returned and when.
What happens after I move out?
Your landlord should send final bills and the deposit accounting within the deadline your state sets. Check both against your lease and your photos, and follow up in writing if either is late.
Final Thoughts
How to move out of an apartment comes down to timing and proof. Start 60 days out, read the lease, give written notice on time, and declutter before you pack. Pack non-essentials first, fix the small things, clean room by room, and schedule the final walkthrough while you still have time to act. On moving day, photograph the empty apartment, return every key with a written receipt, and keep copies of everything.
