Every landlord in Savannah knows that sinking feeling. You open the door to a supposedly “vacated” unit, only to be hit with a wall of humidity and a living room full of abandoned furniture. Old mattresses, bags of clothes, and broken electronics aren’t just clutter; they are obstacles that freeze your revenue stream.
In our experience, the difference between a profitable year and a stressful one often comes down to how fast you can turn that key for the next tenant. For property managers handling rentals in the Hostess City, a streamlined cleanout process is the only way to beat the clock.
The True Cost of Vacancy
Most owners underestimate the daily burn rate of an empty unit. We have crunched the numbers based on the current Savannah market, and the results are sobering.
With the average rental price in Savannah hovering around $1,830 per month in 2026, a vacant unit bleeds approximately $61 every single day. That is significantly higher than just a few years ago. A two-week delay to haul away junk and schedule repairs doesn’t just annoy you; it costs nearly $900 in lost revenue alone.
This calculation does not even include utilities, which you must keep running to combat our coastal humidity, or the insurance premiums that continue regardless of occupancy. The cleanout is the bottleneck. Painters and floor specialists cannot start until the rooms are clear. Removing this variable effectively resets your turnover clock.
Document Everything Before Removal
Before you drag a single sofa to the curb, you must protect your legal standing. Georgia’s property laws are specific, and skipping a step here can open you up to liability.
O.C.G.A. § 44-7-55 is the statute that matters most here. Under Georgia law, the rules for disposal depend heavily on how the tenancy ended.
- After an Eviction: If you have executed a Writ of Possession, the law generally considers any property left behind as abandoned. You can typically remove it immediately to the property line or a designated area.
- Voluntary Move-Out: This is grayer. If a tenant leaves at the end of a lease but leaves items behind, you should not immediately assume it is “trash.”
Our recommended documentation protocol:
- Photograph Every Room: Take wide shots and close-ups of the items. This proves the condition and volume of the debris.
- Verify the Lease: Check your specific “Abandonment Clause.” A strong lease should state that any personal property left 24 hours after lease termination is considered abandoned.
- Security Deposit Deductions: The cost of removing these items is a valid deduction from the security deposit. Your photos are the evidence you need if the tenant disputes this charge later.
- Get a Quote Fast: Send your photos to a removal team immediately. We often provide estimates based on images alone, which saves you a trip.
Common Items Left Behind in Savannah Rentals
After handling hundreds of turnarounds from the Historic District to the Southside, we see the same specific items slowing down landlords. Knowing what to expect allows you to budget for disposal fees, especially for items that the Dean Forest Road Landfill or other local facilities charge extra to accept.
- Mattresses and Box Springs: These are the most frequent offenders. They are difficult to transport and often incur specific surcharge fees at disposal sites due to their bulk.
- CRT TVs and Old Electronics: Chatham County has specific rules for electronic waste. You cannot simply toss these in a dumpster; they often require transport to a recycling drop-off center.
- Pantry Waste: In Savannah’s heat, perishable food left in cupboards attracts pests within nearly 48 hours. This needs to be prioritized to prevent a minor cleanout from becoming a pest control ticket.
- Tires: We frequently find tires in backyards of single-family rentals. Be aware that local landfills often limit the number of tires you can dump per day or charge significant “tipping fees” for them.
Streamlining Your Turnover Process
Speed is your best asset. We recommend a 72-hour protocol to go from “vacated” to “ready for paint.”
| Timeline | Action Step | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (AM) | Inspection & Photos | Secure your legal proof and assess the volume. |
| Day 1 (PM) | Schedule Removal | Booking a pro immediately prevents the “DIY delay.” |
| Day 2 | The Cleanout | A professional team clears the entire unit in 2-4 hours. |
| Day 3 | Deep Clean / Prep | Painters and cleaners can now enter a clear space. |
For units with moderate to heavy debris, a professional commercial cleanout service is often cheaper than the opportunity cost of doing it yourself. Our team at Coastal Junk Pros can clear a fully furnished apartment in a fraction of the time it takes a maintenance tech, keeping your staff focused on repairs rather than hauling trash.
Handling Multi-Unit Properties: The Student Wave
If you manage properties near Savannah State University (SSU) or SCAD, you face a unique “double wave” of turnover that catches many landlords off guard.
The “Student Shuffle” Timeline:
- Early May: Savannah State University typically ends its spring semester around May 7th, triggering the first wave of move-outs.
- Late May: SCAD’s spring quarter usually wraps up around May 28th, releasing thousands of students into the rental market simultaneously.
Property managers handling multi-unit complexes need a volume-based strategy during these weeks. We partner with several local management firms to provide “sweep” services during these peak dates. Instead of calling for each unit, we schedule a recurring pickup route at the complex, ensuring dumpsters don’t overflow and units are cleared the moment keys are turned in.
Preventing Future Abandonment Issues
You can never stop a tenant from leaving a mess, but you can protect your bottom line.
Strengthen Your Lease: Include a specific “Abandonment Fee” clause. Instead of a generic cleaning fee, state clearly: “Removal of abandoned personal property will be charged at $X per item or the actual cost of professional removal, whichever is greater.” This often motivates tenants to take their mattress with them.
Pre-Move-Out Walkthrough: Schedule an inspection two weeks before the lease ends. Point out the specific items (like that broken desk or old tire) that will cost them money if left behind.
Provide Donation Options: Many tenants leave furniture because they don’t know where to take it. Provide a “Move-Out Cheat Sheet” with contact info for:
- Union Mission: They often accept usable furniture and linens to help the homeless community.
- Coastal Junk Pros: For the items that charities won’t take.
Partner With a Reliable Cleanout Team
Tenant turnover is inevitable, but the stress doesn’t have to be. We believe that a predictable system is the key to scaling your rental business.
Coastal Junk Pros serves landlords across the entire Savannah metro area, from Pooler to the Islands. Our pricing is transparent, our trucks are ready for the “May Rush,” and we divert 60 percent of what we collect away from the landfill through donation and recycling.
Call us at (912) 555-0247 to set up your turnover plan. We will handle the heavy lifting so you can get that unit listed, shown, and rented.
