Three Promises For A Clean Move-Out
Moving is stressful. We've boiled the entire process down to three things — and a clear timeline — so nothing falls through the cracks.
You'll know exactly what to do, and when.
The timeline below tells you what needs to happen at 60 days, 30 days, 14 days, 7 days, the day-of, and the week after. No guessing.
You'll get your deposit back faster.
Florida law gives us 15 to 30 days from the day you return possession. We explain exactly how that works and what you need to give us so the clock starts and ends on time.
You'll have one place to flag anything broken.
If something is damaged, broken, or beyond normal cleaning — tell us in advance. We'll work with you. Surprises at walkthrough are the #1 reason tenants lose more deposit than they should.
Your Move-Out Timeline
A countdown of what to do, working backwards from your last day in the home and forward through the week after.
Start Planning
- Decide whether you intend to renew or move out. Your lease requires at least 30 days' written notice prior to your lease expiration date if you do not intend to renew. Earlier is fine — late is not.
- Calendar your notice carefully. Notice should be received by Sea Dog by the 1st of the month and your lease should end on the last day of a month. Mid-month move-outs create rent and utility complications you want to avoid.
- Active-duty military: if you've received PCS orders, contact us as soon as possible. Federal law (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) allows early lease termination with proof of orders. We'll walk you through the process.
- Reach out to Sea Dog with any questions about lease end date, renewal options, or moving plans.
- Begin researching new utility setup at your next address (you'll disconnect from the rental on your last day).
Send Notice & Schedule
- Send written notice of your intent to vacate to Sea Dog. If you signed the Electronic Notices Addendum, email is sufficient; otherwise send by mail and email both. Without timely notice, your lease may automatically renew, you may owe an additional month's rent, or you may face holdover (double) rent charges.
- Schedule your move date.
- Submit your forwarding address to Sea Dog in writing. Florida law requires us to send your security deposit (or any required notice) to your last known mailing address — and if you don't give us a forwarding address, that defaults to the rental unit you've just vacated. The single biggest cause of delayed deposit returns is a missing forwarding address.
- Heads up: During the final 30–60 days, Sea Dog may show the home to prospective new tenants. We'll always give you reasonable notice as required by your lease. We do our best to coordinate with your schedule.
- Begin packing non-essentials and decluttering.
Optional Pre-Move-Out Inspection
- You can request a pre-move-out inspection. With at least 7 days' written notice, we'll walk through the home with you (or alone, if you prefer) and identify anything that may be flagged at final walkthrough — so you have time to remediate before move-out day. This is optional, free, and one of the strongest steps you can take to protect your deposit.
- Request a pre-move-out inspection by contacting Sea Dog (use the button below).
- Begin scheduling professional services if applicable: carpet cleaning, pet treatment, etc.
Confirm Logistics
- Confirm your move-out date and approximate move-out time with Sea Dog.
- Schedule utility disconnects for the day after your lease ends or the day after you've physically vacated, whichever is later. Do not disconnect early — see the Utilities section.
- Submit a USPS Change of Address at moversguide.usps.com or your local post office.
- Notify your bank, employer, subscriptions, doctor's office, voter registration, and the Florida DMV (state law: address change within 10 days) of your new address.
- Confirm professional carpet cleaning is scheduled if your situation calls for it (occupancy >12 months, pets, visible soiling).
- If pets occupied the home, schedule a professional flea/odor treatment for the week of move-out and keep the receipt.
Final Walkthrough Prep
- Complete the cleaning checklist below before leaving.
- Remove all personal property from the home, garage, attic (if accessible), shed, and yard. Items left behind are deemed abandoned per your lease.
- Take dated photos and video of every room, the garage, the yard, and the exterior — your record of condition.
- Replace any burned-out light bulbs and the A/C filter (your lease holds you responsible for both).
- Set the thermostat to a reasonable temperature (78°F summer, 65°F winter) — do not turn the A/C off. Florida humidity will cause mold in a closed-up home.
- Lock all doors and windows.
- Schedule the Vacating Agreement + Key Return with Sea Dog (see below). Bring all keys, garage remotes, gate fobs, mailbox keys, pool/amenity cards, and any other access devices to the office or coordinated handoff. Do not leave keys on the kitchen counter.
Walkthrough & Deposit
- Sea Dog conducts the post move-out walkthrough to document the condition of the property.
- We send your security deposit return — or, if applicable, a written claim notice — within Florida's required timeframe.
- Watch your email and your forwarding address mailbox for any notices.
The Tenant Checklist — Everything You Need To Do
Use this as your master to-do list. Each item is checkable. Your progress is saved in your browser, so you can come back to it. Print or save the PDF version anytime.
How — And When — You Get Your Security Deposit Back
Florida law (F.S. 83.49) sets exact deadlines for when we must return your deposit or notify you of any claim. Here's how it works in plain English.
The clock starts the day you return possession of the property — not your lease end date. Returning possession means you've vacated the home and returned all keys to Sea Dog. If you hold over past the lease end date, the clock starts when you actually leave.
No Claim On The Deposit
If we don't intend to keep any of your deposit, we return your full deposit within 15 days after you return possession (F.S. 83.49(3)(a)). The check or ACH will be sent to the forwarding address you provided.
A Claim Is Made
We must send you a written claim notice within 30 days after you return possession. The notice will state the amount and reason for the claim, and be sent by certified mail to your forwarding address — or by email only if you signed the Electronic Notices Addendum (F.S. 83.505).
- Day 0: You return possession.
- Within 30 days: We send the written claim notice.
- You have 15 days from receipt to object in writing.
- If you don't object in 15 days, we may collect on the claim and mail any remaining balance.
- If you object, the dispute may proceed to informal resolution and, if necessary, court.
The single most important thing you can do to get your deposit back on time: give us your forwarding address in writing before you move out. Without it, Florida law treats the rental unit you just vacated as your last known address — meaning our claim notice goes to a property you no longer occupy, and you may miss the 15-day window to object. Submit your forwarding address as early as possible.
If you paid a non-refundable monthly fee in lieu of a deposit (F.S. 83.491, available since 2023), there is no deposit to return — but Sea Dog can still pursue a damage claim under the same standards as a traditional deposit if there is damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. The 30-day claim notice procedure still applies.
This summary is informational. The exact procedures are governed by your signed lease and Florida Statutes Chapter 83 (specifically F.S. 83.49, 83.491, and 83.505). In any conflict between this page and your signed lease or applicable Florida law, your signed lease and Florida law control. The Florida Bar publishes a neutral consumer pamphlet titled Rights and Duties of Tenants and Landlords if you'd like to read more.
The Post Move-Out Walkthrough
After you've returned possession, we walk through the property to document its condition. Here's exactly what that looks like — and how you can get an early look first.
Want a head start? Request a pre-move-out inspection.
With at least 7 days' written notice before your move-out date, we'll walk through the home with you (or alone, if you prefer) and identify anything that's likely to be flagged at the final walkthrough — so you have time to clean it, fix it, or discuss it with us first. There's no charge, and it's one of the strongest steps you can take to protect your deposit.
What Happens At The Walkthrough
- We document, with photos and video, the condition of every room.
- We compare that documentation to the move-in condition records from when you took occupancy.
- We test major systems and appliances — A/C, heat, refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave, water heater, washer/dryer if provided, garage door opener.
- We check the items the lease holds you responsible for — A/C filter, smoke detector batteries, light bulbs, locks/keys, refrigerator water filter, garbage disposal, pool water level if applicable.
- We note any damage beyond ordinary wear and tear — distinguishing normal wear from damage.
- We compile findings into a written report that informs whether a claim is made on your deposit.
Ordinary Wear and Tear Is Not Your Responsibility
Florida law and your signed lease are clear: you are not financially responsible for ordinary wear and tear from normal use of the home.
Ordinary wear (not chargeable): minor scuffs on walls, small nail holes, carpet wear in traffic areas, faded paint or carpet from sunlight, minor wear on door handles or faucets.
Damage (chargeable): large holes in walls, broken fixtures, pet stains or odors, burns, broken windows or screens, missing keys or remotes, smoke or vape damage, items left behind requiring disposal, unauthorized paint colors, damage from improper cleaning (e.g., abrasive scrubbers on glass cooktops, steam-mops on luxury vinyl plank flooring).
If anything in your home falls into the gray zone, tell us in advance — see the section below. Surprises at walkthrough never go in the tenant's favor.
The Cleaning Guide — Room By Room
This is a guidance checklist to help you leave the home in the "good, clean condition" your lease requires and maximize the return of your security deposit. It is not an addendum to your lease — these are practical recommendations from the people who do walkthroughs every week.
Don't be alarmed by the length. Most of it is "wipe down" and "vacuum." If you've kept up with regular cleaning, this is mostly a final pass — not a deep clean. If something on the list is impossible due to a property condition (e.g., the fridge is built-in and can't be pulled out), tell us in advance — we'll work with you.
Utilities, Services & Property Systems
Disconnecting utilities at the wrong time is one of the most common move-out mistakes. Here's how to handle utilities — plus a few Florida-specific systems that need attention.
Disconnect utilities the day after your lease ends — or the day after you've physically vacated and returned your keys, whichever is later.
Disconnecting early can leave the home without A/C in Florida heat, which causes mold and damage you would be responsible for under your lease. Disconnecting late means you pay for utilities at a home you no longer occupy.
Step-By-Step Utility Disconnect
- About 7–10 days before move-out, contact each utility provider and schedule disconnects for the day after your lease ends (or day after you vacate, whichever is later).
- Notify Sea Dog of the disconnect dates so we can place utilities back in the owner's name without a service interruption.
- Do not turn off the A/C before you leave. Leave the thermostat at 78°F (summer) or 65°F (winter).
- For lawn, pool, pest, or trash services you personally arranged, cancel them effective the day after your lease ends. Do not cancel HOA-provided or owner-arranged services.
- Cancel internet, cable, and streaming services tied to the home address.
Common Central Florida Providers
- Electric: Duke Energy (most of Central FL), OUC (Orlando), FPL (Brevard County coastal), KUA (Kissimmee)
- Water/Sewer: Varies by city/county — Orlando Utilities, Brevard County Utilities, Cocoa Utilities, etc.
- Gas (if applicable): TECO Peoples Gas, Florida Public Utilities
- Trash: Often included with city/county utilities; some homes use Waste Pro
- Internet: Spectrum, Xfinity, AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon
Per your lease, garbage/trash removal is a utility — keep it active until the day after your lease ends.
Florida-Specific Property Systems
- Irrigation timer. Do not change the controller programming. If you noticed any zones not running, tell us in advance.
- Septic systems (some Brevard properties). No tenant action required at move-out, but a final reminder: do not pour grease, wipes, feminine products, or any non-flushable items down the drain. If you've experienced any backup, slow drain, or odor, report it now.
- Hurricane shutters / storm panels. All panels and hardware must be accounted for and stored at the home's designated location. Missing or damaged panels and hardware are typically a charge — report missing items in advance, not at walkthrough.
- Pool / spa. If you've been responsible for upkeep, leave water at mid-skimmer level, equipment running, no algae, and chemistry within test-strip range.
- Smart home devices (Ring, Nest, smart locks, etc.). If you installed them: remove and restore originals. If Sea Dog or the owner installed them: transfer admin access to don@seadogmgt.com and deauthorize your personal account.
Tell Us About It Now — Not At The Walkthrough
If something is broken, damaged, beyond cleaning, or just not how it was when you moved in — let us know before you move out. We are far easier to work with on issues we know about in advance than on surprises at walkthrough.
The #1 Way Tenants Lose Money On Move-Out
The single biggest reason tenants lose more of their deposit than they need to is hiding or downplaying damage hoping it won't be noticed. It's almost always noticed — and it's always more expensive when we have to find a contractor on short notice rather than coordinate with you in advance.
You are not in trouble for telling us early. You're protecting yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions tenants ask us most often during move-out.
Schedule Your Vacating Agreement + Key Return
This is the formal handoff. You'll sign a short Vacating Agreement that confirms your forwarding address, your move-out date, and the access devices you've returned — and you'll get a signed receipt back from us. This protects you and us, and it's how the 30-day deposit clock starts.
What's Captured
- Your full name and current rental address
- Your forwarding mailing address (where the deposit or claim notice goes)
- The date you returned possession (the date the 30-day clock starts under F.S. 83.49)
- An itemized list of every access device returned (keys, remotes, fobs, cards, codes)
- Your signed acknowledgment that you've vacated the premises and returned possession
- Sea Dog's signed receipt to you confirming the same
You leave with a signed receipt showing what date you returned possession and what you returned. That's your protection if anything is ever questioned later.
This page is provided for informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is legal advice, and nothing on this page modifies your signed lease. The procedures and timelines described summarize provisions in your signed lease and Florida Statutes Chapter 83 — specifically F.S. 83.49 (security deposits), F.S. 83.491 (non-refundable monthly fee in lieu of deposit, added 2023), and F.S. 83.505 (electronic notices, added 2021). In any conflict between this page and your signed lease or applicable Florida law, your signed lease and Florida law control. For specific legal questions about your tenancy, consult a licensed Florida attorney. The Florida Bar's consumer pamphlet Rights and Duties of Tenants and Landlords provides a neutral overview of Florida landlord-tenant law.