Removing my renter-friendly DIYs 😱 Will I get my deposit back?

It's time to tear down all the renter-friendly DIYs in my apartment... including my board and batten wall! Will I get my deposit back by the end of it? ✨

L I N K S :
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S U P P L I E S * :

L E T ' S B E F R I E N D S !

A B O U T :
Hi I'm Alli. I'm a 20-something just trying to balance a full-time job with with full-time creative life. I love everything about DIY and home decor, especially finding affordable ways to make high-end looking decor (that's renter-friendly too). So join me here as I help you craft your dream life! ✨

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[szxneli]

As an apartment maintenance guy...it was nice to see someone taking enough care and time to try and leave the apartment in good condition.

[vickigonya]

If I were your landlord I would have kept your upgrades!!! Refunded your. Deposit and upped the rent on it!!! It was so up to date and cozy, homey❤😂

[vivian]

When removing peel and stick wallpaper, start from the top and peel downward. This allows you to keep the paper close to the wall and minimizes the chance of peeling off the underlying paint. When removing Command strips, also pull straight down, slowly, and not away from the wall. As the strip stretches, the friction warms up the adhesive so it comes off without damaging the wall. If you find that the strip won't budge or the pull breaks, use a piece of dental floss or thread and run it back it forth between the hook and the strip. Afterwards, use a blow dryer to warm up the adhesive and the strip comes off the wall without damage or residue. Patience and working slowly and gradually will always yield good results.

[ANokes]

Thank you for the undoing of the makeover. I’ve been curious to know how renter friendly the renter friendly hacks are actually. :)

[LadyCarolina]

What you are doing, taking things down and putting things back how they were, is something I have never seen, in 27 years of being a landlord. I only dream of having a tenant such as yourself.

[kirbynichols]

Thanks for sharing this!
As a landlord, I always want to say yes, but I also want to save my residents from unnecessary fees at the end of their lease. This gives me a much better idea of what can work.
My biggest concern with the peel & stick wallpaper was that it would leave a sticky residue on the walls, which would take hours of clean up.
Im shocked that you were required to spackle. That would be technically illegal in MO, which only requires “broom clean”. I would consider all of those holes to be normal wear and tear. Even the tiny bit where you got overzealous with the board removal. (If there were rips like that all over the wall, I would charge for my repairs. So good job going slowly to save yourself fees!)

[strandlynn]

Just a suggestion from a Faux Finisher...when painting, you can clean unwanted paint spots with baby wipes...it works great. Also, when you want to remove any adhesive, such as tape, painters tape, contact paper and removable wall paper take a hair dryer on medium heat and start at the edges working down or up and towards the middle, pulling the tape or wall paper on a angle, the heat helps to keep paint on the wall. Any leftover adhesive residue on the wall try removing with a little vegetable or canola oil, mayonnaise and leave on for about an hour, then wipe away. If it's a bit harder to remove try rubbing alcohol or again baby wipes.

[brenjen]

Besides the hairdryer tip mentioned, you can run dental floss behind the strips to help unstick them. I’ve had some that broke as I tried to pull the strips as directed, leaving me nothing to pull, the dental floss worked well.

[fufufuaru]

I just saw your video about putting up that wallpaper and what you did in the dining room lmao This is amazing, this is the first time I saw a video of someone showing taking off the DIY improvements they've made after a long time of having them up.

[sandraolson]

Your landlord is crazy for not keeping the updates!! Good luck with your new move!😊

[charleanastasia]

On the backsplash, they have cool vinyl peel and stick tiles that look like glass or marble and are totally removable

[nuthinbutlove]

Great job! The peel n stick you used in the kitchen probably gained stickiness because of the heat from the stove. I haven't seen anyone be successful with removal in that room yet lol.
Enjoy your new place!

[rebeccaa]

My husband was in property management for years. The large corporate owned places assume your security deposit is part of their income now. They were told to make up anything they had to go kerp it and he would get in trouble for returning security deposits. It’s not worth removing g anything unless you rent from a private owner. This is an illegal practice I’m sure, but it’s the norm and nobody polices it.

[karebear]

A hair dryer will help command strips and the wall paper also(not glued type)

[lovealwaysmom]

I'm glad the removal went smoothly. I've been hesitant on using the peel and stick wallpaper. When we move, I'll try them. Looking forward to see which the two of you picked. Congrats on the new place.

[kelliewright]

Yay! I’m so glad it all came off pretty well!! I cannot wait to see your new place! And what you do!!!

[lifeofeuropean]

I am using command strips often... Also renting so my room divider is hanging on them... Also all pictures, working board. Great stuff...

[JaneSmith]

I've subscribed and hit the notification bell after watching this video. You covered everything I've been curious about regarding renter friendly DIYs. Now I'm anxious to see the new apartment and watch your improvements of it. I stumbled onto your page after a DIY binge and I'm so glad I did.

[MaggieBer]

For the dinning room, maybe not putting the command tape straight on the wall but on the contact paper (applying it without leaving space between the panels) may have helped too maybe? everything would have held on the contact paper and at worse, if you were worried about the solidity, maybe put a couple of staples (jt-21) at the top most part before you apply the horizontal board (and also put the command tape that holds the board on the contact paper)

[rebekahbardsley]

Congratulations Alli for your system in all your rooms. It's exciting going to a new place. A blank canvas to recreate. I hope you will have a balcony too. In all of the apartment rentals I have lived in, in VA they have the 3 year rule. If you have lived there 3 years or more they still give you the deposit back even with molly bolt holes or mail holes and you do not need to patch them up as they repaint anyway and redo all the carpets. They only hold your deposit if you have very bad dmg to the walls and hardwood floors over 3 years which is a given.

I presently live in a rent to buy Flat co-op and 3 days before I moved in I was told all the appliances and the bathroom was brand new. NOT! My place is registered with the historical society so molly bolts are not permitted or nails but a thumb tack is but I have been putting a few things up with command strips. My fridge has been on the blink for 2 weeks I lost lots of meats and freezer food after a big shopping of which my renters insurance reimbursed me but I have not had a working freezer for 2 weeks and the fridge is not as cold as it should be. I went and bought a temp guide to hang inside. The bathroom floor was filthy at the walk thru and so was the kitchen floor. The dishwasher has food and crumbs left in it from the previous people. The rent here in the northern VA area is thru the roof and I believe the place should be clean. I am telling all I hear that are looking for a rental even in a home ask how old all the appliances are. Ask what the wear and tare limit is 3 years or longer or under. This is suppose to be a smoke free zone if you smoke you have to be 35 feet from your entrance door. No smoking allowed in the apartments. It's suppose to be a drug free zone but I smell pot everyday when I come home from work.

But, I look forward to seeing your new place and travel along on the journey with you of your new upgrades, transformations etc. Today is my first day of vac and I have been a bump on a log the entire day but I need to run out and get party supplies for my Dad's bday tomorrow and since I moved in, I have yet to go to one little shop I have been itching to see.
I have been working 10 hour days and Saturdays so I haven't been on YouTube a lot. I am happy I saw the alert to this video today. Blessings to you and I hope your job is still going great!
Love, Rebekah