Unit Pack-out Service
Service Overview
Our apartment pack-out service is an add-on program to our apartment clean-out. It is meant to minimize the losses due to the storage of personal property within a unit in the event of a lockout or skip.
We will pack up the entire contents of the unit removing it from the apartment, perform all legally required mailings and notifications, arrange to pick up of the items by the former tenant if requested, and ensure that all releases and documentation are returned to the property. If required by law we will also host the public sale.
Property Benefits
Commonly asked questions
Isn’t it against the law to move tenant’s belongings?
No, all the law requires is that the items are stored in a secure location with any reasonable distance from the property in the event the tenant chooses to claim their property within the 15-18 days permitted.
Where will the contents of the unit be held?
The contents of the apartment which have been packed up and removed shall be stored at a secure and safe location.
I’m not sure what to do from a legal standpoint.
The most important thing is to understand the law, the tenants' rights, and the rights of the property. When our company performs a pack-out, we not only exceed the legal mailing and notification requirements but do everything we can to try to connect with the tenant and accommodate the return of their property.
You may find copies of civil code pertaining to abandoned personal property on our website with links to the source documentation that we follow but will always recommend that you consult with your company legal counsel if you have any questions.
What happens if they come for the contents?
Once our office completes the legal mailing paperwork copies will be provided to the property and for the tenant explaining their legal rights, how to schedule an appointment with us to retrieve their property, and the release of interest form they are to complete or arrange for a third party to bring their property to intended storage. Often items will be stored in a storage unit location where the tenant May simply take over the rental contract or move it out themselves.
How long will you hold the contents?
Generally, if the tenant's property is valued by property staff at over $300 and less than $700 it is required to be held for no less than 15 days from the date of the eviction or skip if legal notice is have been hand-delivered. If the documents and notification are mailed then the property must be held for no less than 18 days.
If the remaining consents are valued at over $700 then additional time to perform a public sale of the items may be required possibly adding another two or three weeks of storage in order to meet the notification and advertising requirements.
What happens if the contents get broken by you?
All unit will be wrapped, protected, or boxed just as if we were moving the residence. Generally in the case of an eviction, in most cases, furniture electronics, and other items may already have damage inflicted by the tenant. Prior to packing up any of these items with existing damage, the damage will be photographed and documented. We take full responsibility for any items that may have been damaged by our company while performing the pack out. We will not open any boxed or bagged items that have been packed by a tenant to ensure proper packing on their part. Again, we heavily rely on photo documentation in the event that the claimed for damage has been made by the former tenant.
What happens if the tenant never returns?
If a tenant has not made a claim for their property within 20 days and the value is under $700 as determined by property staff. The contents will either be donated, recycled, or discarded.
If the value of the items has been determined to be an excess of $700 then a public sale will be held to the highest bidder with the proceeds returned back to the property for disposition.