Security Deposit

How to Get Your Security Deposit Back

Royse + Brinkmeyer logo

as easy as 1,2,3

Here is something that may surprise you: we cannot wait to give you your security deposit back! All we ask is that you return your apartment to the condition you found it in. It's as easy as 1,2,3:

  1. Remove all of your belongings from the apartment (including trash)
  2. Wipe down all horizontal surfaces
  3. Vacuum and sweep all of the floors

We encourage you to clean your apartment thoroughly, it will save you money! If you're worried about having time to clean, or just don't want to, call R+B@Home at 217-352-1129. R+B@Home's cleaning and item removal fees will be cheaper than our maintenance team's. They can also help out with packing and organizing!

Understanding Our Fees

Our cleaning charges reflect both the direct and indirect costs associated with getting your apartment ready for its next tenant. These include:

  • Assessment costs:
  • Inspecting the apartment and documenting the findings.
  • Management costs:
  • Administration of cleaning staff and functions.
  • Staffing costs:
  • Amount of time spent in the apartment, which often requires overtime.
  • Maintenance costs:
  • Cost of purchasing and maintaining cleaning equipment, purchase and storage of cleaning supplies.

Cleaning

Flooring

Vacuum all carpets and sweep and sweep/mop all wood, tile, or vinyl floors. Ensure trim along the wall is clean.

Electric

Clean all light switches and plates, replace burnt out light bulbs, and remove all cobwebs. Ensure that any baseboard heating units, light fixtures, and ceiling fans are clean.

Windows

Clean all blinds, ledges, and glass surfaces.

Fireplaces/Balconies

Clean fireplace and ledge, and remove trash and items from balconies.

Appliances

Refrigerator:

  • Wash inside and out, clean rubber seal, and leave plugged in and turned on.

Stove:

  • Clean inside oven, broiler, burner racks and pans, clean entire outside (including the exhaust hood and lights).

Washer/Dryer:

  • Clean inside and out of the washer/dryer, make sure debris from dryer sheets is removed, and clean away dust from all surfaces.

Dishwasher:

  • Make sure the inside of the dishwasher is cleaned (run washer again if necessary) and clean the outer surfaces of the unit.

Cabinets/Drawers

Clean cabinets and drawers inside and out, including handles.

Kitchen

Clean cabinets inside and out (including handles), appliances (see above), countertops, sink, drawers, and all surfaces.

Bathrooms

Clean the sink, tub, faucets, shower door, toilet (inside and out), medicine cabinet, mirrors, and the shelves in the linen closet.

Charge Estimates for Insufficient Cleaning

If you are concerned that you will not be able to return the apartment to us in the same condition in which you received it, contact R+B@Home to have us do it for you. It will be cheaper for us and for you!

Contact R+B@Home
Kitchen:
Medium Heavy
Stove $112.5 $150
Range Hood $22.50 $45
Refrigerator $90 $135
Dishwasher $22.50 $45
Sink/countertops $25 $50
Cabinets $45 $90
Floors $30 $75
Bathrooms:
Medium Heavy
Tub $45 $90
Toilet $25 $45
Sink/countertops $15 $25
Vanity $22.50 $45
Mirrors $15 $25
Floor $25 $50
Floors $30 $75
Other
Item Cost
Blinds $22.50/per*
Garage $22.50
Fireplace $45
Ceiling Fans $22.50
Baseboard $25
Heaters/Trim $45
Vacuum $50

*If blinds are too dirty to clean or they are damaged, they will be replaced at cost along with $15/blind labor cost for installation.

Walls and Paint

Your walls will experience wear and tear each year that you reside in the apartment. This is normal. It takes four years of normal wear for your walls to need a full paint job after you move out. If you live in your apartment for only one year, then we expect that you have taken good care of the walls and that we will merely need to touch up the walls.

 

A touch up means that there may be an occasional scuff mark which needs painted. If we have to perform a full paint job on your apartment after one year of residency, then you will be required to pay for the costs.

Costs Breakdown for Painting

Touch Up Partial Full
0/1 Bed No Charge $360 $720
2 Bed No Charge $540 $1080
3 Bed No Charge $810 $1620

*Note: Painting charges will decrease by 25% per year of residency (up to four years).

Difference Between “Wear and Tear” and Damage

It is important to note that wear and tear is different from damage. Wear and tear is the unavoidable aging of the apartment. Damage is the result of your behavior and should be completely avoidable. If you damage the walls, then you will be billed the cost of repairing them. Here are the most common ways we see walls damaged:



  1. Door knobs bang into them
  2. Furniture is moved and dents them
  3. Smoke from candles or cigarettes covers them in a yellow film
  4. There is residue from adhesive stuck on them

Floors

We expect to get at least seven years of life from carpeting under normal conditions. If you damage the carpeting which prevents it from making it to its full life, we will charge you for the damage caused.


For example:
 
If you move into an apartment with a carpet that is one year old, then live in the apartment for three years, the carpet now has four years of wear. If it cannot be cleaned and must be replaced, then we are responsible for 4/7 of the cost and you are responsible for 3/7 of the cost. We do not feel it would be fair to charge you the cost of a full carpet replacement, only the additional cost of replacing it early.
 

We also charge the following rates to remove flooring that has been damaged before the end of its useful life:

1 Bedroom Apartment $125
2 Bedroom Apartment $175
3 Bedroom Apartment $225

These charges cover the cost of our crews to remove all the apartment interior doors, cut carpeting into manageable sections, bind them together, haul to our trucks, and procure garbage containers of adequate size to handle this much material.

Trash/Left Items Removal

Have Questions or Want to Dispute Your Security Deposit?

If you want to communicate any dispute or ask any questions about your already remitted security deposit or charges, you must do so in writing. Please send a letter via USPS addressed as follows:

 

Royse + Brinkmeyer Apartments

Attn: Kaitie Pruitt

211 W. Springfield Ave.

Champaign, IL 61820

 

Phone calls will not be accepted in regards to disputes as the information you seek has already been filed by the time you receive your deposit in the mail and time must be taken to look into it. All disputes or questions must be received in writing.

 

Please reach out to us with any questions about the move-out process and our expectations. We are always here to help!

***pricing updated 217-352-1129

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