If you choose to rent through Christone Enterprises, here is my advice for how to protect yourself and your deposits:\r
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Before you sign the lease, ask for a move-out cleaning packet. Compare the move-out packet to the lease. Their lease does not match the move-out packet in all areas (unless they have changed it) for example their policy on chimney cleaning is different in the lease and in the move-out packet. Get these things resolved in writing before you sign the lease and have it part of the lease. Then do a walk through with an agent before you sign. They expect the house to be spotless when you move out, so you should get the house spotless upon move in. Make sure they have everything cleaned that is on the checklist (including a new furnace filter).\r
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If you go ahead with signing the lease and the house still is not spotless upon move in, document EVERYTHING in writing and as much as possible in pictures. Include things that are broken, dirty, scratched, torn…leave nothing out…including cracked electrical plug covers. Examine every wall, every nook and cranny including inside cupboards and closets. Inspect tubs and showers for mold inside of the calking. Meticulously document everything inside AND outside. Don’t assume Christone knows about the trash under the deck, the rotting door frames, torn screens, windows that won’t open or closed, etc. Mail the finished document to them registered mail so you have proof that they received the documents. Keep your copy in a safe place too and find out how to prove that the documents and pictures have not been tampered with. \r
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Also, it may be a pain but go through Christone on all repairs, etc. instead of the owner. If you go through the owner, you have no way to prove you tried to take care of issues. When it was time for me to move out the owner of the house lied about an issue. A Christone employee yelled at me, called me a liar and I had to pay for cleaning something I never dirtied because I hadn’t put that it was dirty in my move-in report. Many months later I still feel upset when I think about Christone Enterprises. Their good employees (which there were some) did not outweigh the bad encounters and having my integrity attacked.\r
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