What to Do 60–90 Days Before Your Apartment Lease Ends

Your apartment lease may still have a few months left, but What to do 60–90 Days Before Your Apartment Lease Ends. Waiting until the last few weeks can make moving, renewing, or finding a new apartment more stressful and expensive.

Starting early gives you time to review your options, understand your lease requirements, compare apartments, organize your finances, and make a smooth transition into your next home.

Whether you currently live in Houston, Austin, Odessa, Pearland, Baytown, or San Marcos, this 60–90 day apartment lease checklist can help you stay ahead of the process.

1. Check Your Lease Agreement

The first thing you should do is review your current lease.

Look for important information about:

Lease expiration date
Required notice period
Renewal terms
Move-out requirements
Security deposit conditions
Cleaning requirements
Early termination provisions
Key or access-device return instructions
Any applicable fees

Your lease should explain how and when you need to provide notice if you plan to move out. Requirements can vary by lease, so do not assume that every apartment community follows the same process.

Tip: Save a copy of your lease and highlight important dates so you can refer back to them during the transition.

2. Decide Whether You Want to Renew or Move

By 60–90 days before your lease ends, start thinking seriously about your next step.

Ask yourself:

Do I want to stay in my current apartment, or is it time for a change?

Renewing may make sense if you like your community, location, apartment layout, and monthly expenses. Moving may make sense if your budget, commute, household size, lifestyle, or housing needs have changed.

Consider your priorities, including:

Monthly rent
Apartment size
Number of bedrooms
Location
Commute to work or school
Parking
Pet policies
Amenities
Maintenance and resident services
Neighborhood convenience

Making this decision early gives you more time to research your options instead of making a last-minute choice.

3. Ask About Lease Renewal Options

If you are considering staying, contact your apartment management team and ask about renewal options.

Find out:

Whether your apartment is available for renewal
Available lease terms
New rental rates
Renewal deadlines
Any changes to fees or policies
Available apartment upgrades or transfers

Do not wait until your lease is almost over to start this conversation. Renewal options and availability can change, and starting early gives you more time to review the information.

At Ashford Communities, residents can connect with their community team to discuss their housing needs and available options.

4. Start Your Apartment Search Early

Planning to move? Begin your apartment search while you still have plenty of time.

Start by creating a list of what you need in your next apartment. Separate your requirements into must-haves and nice-to-haves.

For example:

Must-haves

Two bedrooms
Specific location
Pet-friendly
Parking
Within budget

Nice-to-haves

Swimming pool
Fitness center
Outdoor space
Updated finishes
Additional storage

This makes it easier to compare communities without getting distracted by features that may not be essential to you.

5. Set a Realistic Moving Budget

Moving involves more than just monthly rent.

Create a budget that includes potential expenses such as:

Application fees
Deposits
Moving services
Truck rental
Packing supplies
Utility deposits or transfers
Cleaning
Transportation
New furniture or household items

You should also consider the timing of your final rent payment, current security deposit, and any other costs outlined in your lease.

Planning these expenses 60–90 days in advance can make your move much easier financially.

6. Compare Apartment Locations Carefully

When searching for your next apartment, do not evaluate a community based solely on the advertised rent.

Look at the overall convenience of the location.

Depending on where you live, you may want to consider access to:

Major highways
Workplaces
Schools and colleges
Grocery stores
Restaurants
Medical facilities
Parks and recreation
Public transportation
Shopping centers

For renters in cities such as Houston and Austin, commute times can be an especially important part of your decision. In areas such as Odessa, Pearland, Baytown, and San Marcos, nearby roads, employment centers, shopping, and everyday services can also have a significant impact on your daily routine.

7. Declutter Before You Start Packing

One of the biggest mistakes renters make is packing everything and deciding what to keep later.

Instead, start decluttering early.

Go through your:

Clothes
Kitchen items
Furniture
Electronics
Documents
Storage areas
Decorations
Unused household items

Use a simple system: keep, donate, sell, or discard.

The less you have to move, the easier the moving process becomes.

Starting 60–90 days ahead also means you can handle decluttering gradually instead of spending an entire weekend sorting through your belongings.

8. Make a List of Repairs and Maintenance Issues

Take a careful look around your apartment.

Have you noticed:

A dripping faucet?
Damaged blinds?
Loose handles?
A broken appliance?
Wall damage?
A door that does not close properly?
Any other maintenance issue?

Report legitimate maintenance concerns to your apartment management team rather than waiting until move-out.

Keeping track of maintenance requests can also help you understand what has already been reported and addressed.

At the same time, avoid making unauthorized alterations or repairs that could affect your move-out responsibilities.

9. Review Your Security Deposit Expectations

Your lease should explain the conditions associated with your security deposit.

As your move-out approaches, review those requirements and make a plan to leave the apartment in the condition specified by your lease, taking normal wear and tear into account where applicable.

You may want to:

Clean the apartment thoroughly
Remove personal belongings
Dispose of unwanted items properly
Follow move-out instructions
Return keys and access devices as required
Document the apartment’s condition

Taking photos of the apartment around move-out can also help you maintain a personal record of its condition.

10. Start Organizing Your Documents

Moving often involves more paperwork than people expect.

Keep important documents organized in one place, including:

Current lease agreement
Renewal or move-out notice
New lease documents
Identification
Application information
Moving company details
Utility account information
Rent payment records

Having these documents readily available can save time when you need them during the final weeks of your lease.

11. Plan Your Utilities and Address Change

Once your move is confirmed, make a list of services that need to be transferred, canceled, or updated.

Depending on your situation, this may include:

Electricity
Water
Internet
Gas
Trash services
Renter’s insurance
Mail forwarding

Remember to update your address with banks, employers, subscription services, insurance providers, government agencies, and other organizations that need your current information.

12. Schedule Your Move Early

If you are moving, do not wait until the final week to arrange everything.

Start comparing moving options early, especially if you plan to move during a busy period.

Depending on your needs, you may choose:

Professional movers
A rental truck
Friends or family
A portable storage solution

Create a basic moving-day schedule covering packing, transportation, cleaning, key return, and access to your new apartment.

The more organized your moving day is, the less stressful it tends to be.

13. Keep a Final Apartment Checklist

As your lease expiration date gets closer, create one final checklist.

Before Moving Out:

Review your lease one more time
Complete required notice
Confirm your move-out date
Finish packing
Clean the apartment
Remove personal belongings
Take photos
Follow community move-out instructions
Return keys and access devices
Confirm your forwarding address
Transfer or cancel utilities

A checklist reduces the chance of forgetting a small but important detail during a busy move.

Your 60–90 Day Apartment Lease Timeline

Here is a simple timeline you can follow:

90 Days Before Lease End

Review your lease and determine your options. Decide whether you are leaning toward renewal or moving. Start researching apartments and reviewing your budget.

60 Days Before Lease End

Confirm your plans, review renewal information or continue your apartment search, and begin decluttering. Start organizing the financial and logistical side of your move.

30 Days Before Lease End

Finalize moving arrangements, confirm utilities, begin serious packing, and carefully follow your community’s move-out or renewal instructions.

Final Week

Complete cleaning, remove belongings, photograph the apartment, complete any required final steps, and make sure keys or access devices are returned according to your community’s instructions.

Find Your Next Apartment With Ashford Communities

Planning ahead can turn the end of your lease from a stressful deadline into an organized transition.

Whether you are renewing your current home or searching for something new, starting 60–90 days before your lease ends gives you time to make thoughtful decisions without unnecessary pressure.

Ashford Communities offers rental and leasing options across Houston, Austin, Odessa, Pearland, Baytown, and San Marcos, with communities designed to provide convenient apartment living and a place you can feel at home.

Ready to start planning your next move? Explore Ashford Communities and find a place to belong.

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