Leaving Medellín After Three Months: A Departure and Deposit Checklist

Departure day should be mostly about getting to the airport. It becomes stressful when the manager has not arranged an inspection, the utility bill is unclear, or nobody knows how keys are returned. Start the checkout process a week before leaving; your future self will appreciate the boring paperwork.

One week out: settle the administrative loose ends

Confirm your checkout date and time, how keys or access cards are returned, when a final inspection will happen and whether cleaners are scheduled. Ask for an itemized account of any additional services or utilities. If a refundable amount applies under the specific booking agreement, ask for the timeline and payment method for its return. Rental arrangements differ legally; do not assume a customary cash deposit is permitted for every kind of residential lease.

Two days out: record the unit fairly

Clean to the standard in your agreement, not an invented one. Photograph rooms, furniture, appliances and existing defects, ideally alongside the entry inventory. Request a joint walkthrough when possible and ask for a written report or acknowledgment. Return rented equipment, check cupboards and the laundry area, and cancel any local recurring services that you independently contracted.

Departure morning: protect the margin

Reconfirm transport to José María Córdova Airport with enough time for traffic and airline check-in requirements. Keep passport, travel documents, medication and a backup payment method in carry-on baggage. Know the authorized immigration departure date and retain relevant travel records. Give the operator a reachable email for any final accounting, but do not share credentials or sensitive documents beyond what the transaction actually requires.

Before you commit: the six-point checklist

Book the apartment walkthrough before the final day.
Confirm key and access-card return procedure.
Photograph the condition of every room.
Request an itemized final utilities statement.
Document any lawful refundable amount and deadline.
Confirm airport transport and travel documents.

A practical next step

Send the manager this note: “I leave on [date]. Can we schedule a walkthrough, confirm all final charges in writing, and agree on the procedure for returning keys and any refundable amount under our contract?”