Lots of pitfalls in doing it alone. I’d get a landlord’s attorney who does nothing else.
Should cost around $500, misc. fees and all.
By specializing, these attorneys get economies of scale, know all the tricks “professional tenants” can play (and the Legal Aid attorneys they use at taxpayers’ expense), and save you precious days by filling out the right forms correctly, serving them, etc.
Time is money, and you want your property back, intact, ASAP. A good attorney also knows how to negotiate their departure at minimum long-terms cost to you. If you can come to some kind of compromise, even if it hurts your pride, you’ll lose less, which is the name of the game here.
