I need help fixing a scratched painted steel door and/or not getting screwed over by our landlords for damaging their stupid expensive door. We're moving because our landlords are repossessing our rental. As part of the agreement for us to move, as is pretty much standard operating procedure here, they have to pay us $2000, less any damages beyond "normal wear and tear."
The thing is that, just a few month ago, they replaced the doors and windows with stupid expensive painted metal things. I think the front door was like $800 (looking at very similar doors online). And, in the agreement, they very specifically spelled out that there must be no damage to the new doors and windows. So of course, we accidentally scratched them.
The scratches are not very deep, but are pretty noticeable. What do we do here? Is there are reasonable way for us to seamlessly repair this ourselves, or do we risk making it worse? How much should it cost to get the paint touched up professionally (so that we can either hire someone, or get a quote for the amount of damage)?
We fought tooth and nail against the repossession so, unfortunately, we have a very adversarial relationship with our soon-to-be-ex-landlords. I think there's a very real possibility that they will see these scratches and either try to deduct the cost of an entire new door, or avoid paying us at all because we technically violated the agreement by damaging the door. I don't think either of those courses of action would stand up if we took them to the landlord-tenant agency for dispute, but that is a huge pain in the ass that we want to avoid.
Help?
The thing is that, just a few month ago, they replaced the doors and windows with stupid expensive painted metal things. I think the front door was like $800 (looking at very similar doors online). And, in the agreement, they very specifically spelled out that there must be no damage to the new doors and windows. So of course, we accidentally scratched them.
The scratches are not very deep, but are pretty noticeable. What do we do here? Is there are reasonable way for us to seamlessly repair this ourselves, or do we risk making it worse? How much should it cost to get the paint touched up professionally (so that we can either hire someone, or get a quote for the amount of damage)?
We fought tooth and nail against the repossession so, unfortunately, we have a very adversarial relationship with our soon-to-be-ex-landlords. I think there's a very real possibility that they will see these scratches and either try to deduct the cost of an entire new door, or avoid paying us at all because we technically violated the agreement by damaging the door. I don't think either of those courses of action would stand up if we took them to the landlord-tenant agency for dispute, but that is a huge pain in the ass that we want to avoid.
Help?
