Moving In

1. When you move in, be sure to fill out the apartment condition report carefully and thoroughly. This report is given to you when you move in and is due at the office within 5 days of your move-in date.
2. Note any holes in the screens, condition of the shades and accessories, and any other damages.
3. Make sure your heaters are firmly attached to the walls. If you have children, do not let them stand on the heaters. They are not designed to support a child’s weight. There is a damage charge if heaters must be re-attached.
4. If you have empty boxes that you want to get rid of, unfold and FLATTEN them and take them to the cardboard recycling bin in the office lot. Do not put empty boxes in the trash dumpster or leave them in the dumpster area. Placing empty boxes in the trash dumpster can create an overflow situation that leaves no room for other residents’ garbage (hence it is often left out where raccoons and stray cats make a mess of it).
5. Likewise, if you want to get rid of large articles of furniture during your stay here or when you move out, please do not put them in or near the dumpster or in the laundry rooms. Leave them on the loading dock outside the Smyth shop.
6. If at any time you want to get rid of small items (clothing, books, magazines, toys, etc.) you can leave them on the giveaway table in the E & G laundry rooms.
7. Anything that is still there a week later should be removed and thrown away by you or you can donate the items to a charity.

Move Out Checklist 

1. You must give 30 days notice to vacate your apartment. You do this by filing the Intent to Vacate Form available at the Village Office.
2. Once you file the Intent to Vacate Form the Housing Office will begin to show your apartment to prospective tenants. You will be given written notice 24 hours before your apartment is to be shown. A Resident Advisor will accompany the prospective tenants during the showing. If you have special needs or need specific times for showings contact the Assignments Office at 642-4109.
3. If you are leaving things in your apartment for the new tenant, you must tag the items and store them out of the way.
4. You must request a final inspection of your apartment before you leave. Please call the Village Office in advance to schedule an Inspection.
5. If you wish to transfer you must file a Transfer Application. You can get an application in the Village Office.
6. When you are moving out, do not drive cars, trucks, or trailers on the lawn or sidewalks. All vehicles must be parked and loaded on the street. Underground water lines can be broken and you will be charged for the damages.
7. Be sure that your rent is paid in full.
8. Turn in your keys to the Village Office. You will be charged at least the daily rental charge for keys not returned by your vacate date. If your keys are not turned in, and there is every sign that you have moved out, your locks will be changed and you will be charged for the change.
9. Please file a forwarding address with the Village Office and the U.S. Postal Service. You also need to change your address with Bearfacts.
10. Discontinue all deliveries to your apartment, like newspapers or magazines.
11. Discontinue or transfer your telephone service.
12. Please thoroughly clean your apartment. Using the cleaning checklist may help.
13. Dollies (hand carts for moving heavy items) may be checked out from the Village Office. The Resident using the equipment is responsible for its proper usage and is liable for it while it is checked out. There will be a charge for dollies not returned within 24 hours. On weekends the dollies may be kept until Monday.
14. Your deposit will be refunded after your apartment inspection, and after damage or cleaning charges have been deducted. This takes about 4 to 6 weeks. If you are moving to a foreign address, there are some special instructions that you should follow.

Custodial Information

To help ensure cost-effective, quality maintenance services, we need your cooperation. After your occupancy, you must return your apartment to the Village in its original move-in condition.

Some common unacceptable vacancy conditions to avoid:

• Greasy ovens, burner drip pans, and vent hoods
• Cracked shelving in refrigerators, damaged crispers and dirty refrigerator interiors/exteriors
• Dirty cabinet interiors and grimy exteriors and drawers, adhesive shelving paper
• Carpet and linoleum spotted, stained and/or in damaged condition
• Damaged blades on blinds and torn, stained shades
• Scratched, scoffed, marked, or taped doors
• Dirty toilets, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks
• Removed range grease hood
• Tampering with smoke detectors
• Damaged window and door screens
• Holes, scuff marks, scratches, and crayon writing on doors and walls
• Linoleum glued over apartment tile floors
• Painting kitchen cabinets, apartment walls or doors
• Use of wall decorations with adhesive backing
• Spackling of sheetrock and/or door holes
• Abandoned furniture and debris in and around the apartment

Damages and extra cleaning costs will be assessed at current labor and material rates and are subject to change without advance notification.

Labor Charges:

• $38/hour for custodial services
• $57/hour for maintenance services
• $60 - $94/hour for various campus trades
• $59/hour for gardener services

Charges will be deducted from your damage deposit; damage costs over the damage deposit amount will be assessed to your CARS student account.

Failure to reimburse the University for damages will indefinitely freeze all University documentation (i.e., transcripts, letters of reference, proof of attendance) that may be required for your future employment, credit, education, or housing needs.

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Smyth Fernwald is a unit of the Office of Student Development