move in/move out requests - tenants/landlords

[LoveTrains]

So my tenant moved in on Sunday and last night emailed to ask the following questions. Which would you pay for or are these reasonable requests? keep in mind that we went on Saturday, touched up all the paint AND I cleaned for two hours.

1. She wants to repaint the kitchen wall - says there are food stains.
    -I think its fine if she wants to repaint, but she needs to paint it back when she leaves.

2. Wants to launder the curtains. I think that is fine, but I left them there as a courtesy to the original tenant. She asked if I would replace them if they get ruined in the process. My thought is no, since they are cheap crappy curtains I originally bought at Target. The bedroom does have blinds per Massachusetts requirements. 

3. Says that the entire apartment is covered in layers of dust and grime. Wants me to pay for professional cleaners. Frankly I cleaned that puppy for two hours on Saturday so I am annoyed. But I guess I can agree to that since I don't really want to agree to anything else. 

Thoughts?

[hw77]

I would only agree to #1 if she paints it back.

#2 you are right and it would probably be cheaper to buy new cheap curtains then worry with washing them but its not your issue, I'd just remind her that you are only required to provide blinds.

#3 If she has rented anywhere she knows that everyone has a different expectation of clean. I have never moved into any place that is spic and span clean and end up doing a deep clean myself. If the lease didnt say it would be professionally cleaned then I certainly wouldnt worry about it. Some people hire cleaners right before they move in to take care of it but I dont think it falls on the landlord as your job is to fix anything that is broken.

good luck

[bostonmichelle]

I would agree to #1 if she paints it back at the end of the lease. I would tell her she is welcome to launder the curtains but if they get ruined it is on her to replace them if she wants to and you should advise her they are cheap ones from target. I would ask to go down there and see specific areas that she deems to be unclean for #3, I realize you cleaned for hours but I would do it just in case somehow you missed something.

[pinkroses]

1. I agree with you - let her paint it if she paints it back to the original color.  If her main concern is food stains, she may even be able to get away with painting it a neutral matching color now and just leaving it.

2. Why would the curtains get ruined?  Are they not machine washable or is she just covering her bases? 

3. I am torn on this one.  I get that she expects the place to be clean. BUT I have never moved into an apartment that has met my cleanliness standards, and always expect to have to do a deep clean when I first move in.  Even if you hire professional cleaners, it might not meet her standards.  Our house was professionally cleaned before closing and when we moved in there was still grime everywhere and even food spills in the refrigerator.  I forget what your apartment looked like; was it a gut remodel or does it still have some original trim, woodwork, etc?  If it's an old building, it's never going to look 100% clean.  That's just the way it is.  Also, if you cleaned for 2 hours before she moved in, that should have taken care of most of it.  Does the lease say anything about this?

[noodleoo]

1. Sure, let her paint as long as she paints it back or you will deduct the cost from her security deposit. I'd get it in writing for sure.

2. Tell her she can do whatever she wants regarding the curtains, but you won't replace them. Who expects curtains in an apartment?

3. Tell her the apartment was cleaned, no dice.

People are way more demanding than I ever was with an apartment. I would never have asked for professional cleaning. You kind of accept that it is your responsibility to get it up to your standards when you move in as a renter.

[LoveTrains]

So to answer some questions.

I can't really go over and look at the dirtiness - I live 90-120 minutes away (or more) depending on traffic as the apartment is on the north shore and I'm in Rhode Island.

In terms of the paint, I actually have paint in the basement that matches the kitchen. I think I am going to tell her she is welcome to use that paint, or if she wants to buy more of the same color, I can give her the color (Sapphire by SW). If she paints it a different color, I expect it to be painted back at the end of her lease or I will deduct from her security deposit for painting.

[bostonmichelle]

LoveTrains sorry I mixed you and scm up in my head. I wouldn't drive from RI to the NS either.

[LoveTrains]

Thanks SCM.

I called the cleaning company who does our common areas at the condo and also my neighbor's apartment. They can do mine while they are there and its only $80, so I decided to suck it up and pay for that. I am wondering if she has higher expectations than my previous tenant because I am charging so much more in rent?

But then I talked to my friends who just got an apartment in watertown and its like $2300/month for a 3 bedroom and my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. Like I said, I am so out of touch with the rental market in Boston now that I am down here in the land of cheap real estate.