# Deep-clean my rental to get my deposit back

A room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist with photo documentation steps and a plan for disputed deductions.

- Topic: Productivity & Planning
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/deep-clean-my-rental-to-get-my-deposit-back

## Prompt

```text
Help me prepare my rental for move-out so I get as much of my deposit back as possible.

**Home:** [ROOMS, flooring types, appliances]
**Lease cleaning terms:** [PASTE THE RELEVANT LEASE CLAUSE, or "not sure"]
**Move-in condition:** [e.g. "I have move-in photos", "there was already a carpet stain"]
**Known issues:** [e.g. "nail holes", "pet scratches on door", "oven never cleaned"]
**Time before handover:** [DAYS] and **help available:** [PEOPLE]
**Location:** [STATE/COUNTRY - deposit rules vary]

Give me:
1. A room-by-room checklist focused on what inspectors check most (oven, fridge, bathroom grout, baseboards, inside cabinets, windows, walls, floors), with a time estimate per room.
2. Which small fixes I can reasonably do myself (e.g. filling nail holes) versus leave alone, and to check my lease before painting or repairing anything.
3. A documentation plan: date-stamped photos and video of every room, meter readings, and returned keys.
4. A short, polite message to my landlord requesting a walk-through and the deposit return timeline.
5. What to do if deductions seem unfair: request an itemized list, compare with move-in records, and where to find my local tenant rights.

Deposit rules (deadlines, allowed deductions, normal wear and tear) vary by location - treat this as general information and check my local tenant agency or a tenant-rights organization.
```

## What to fill in

- ROOMS, flooring types, appliances
- PASTE THE RELEVANT LEASE CLAUSE, or "not sure"
- DAYS
- PEOPLE
- STATE/COUNTRY - deposit rules vary

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.