Rental Inspection Tips From Experts

When I was 21, I’d been living in my Adelaide apartment for two years when I decided it was time to move on. I’d been a model tenant: I always paid my rent on time, and always kept my humble abode as clean and tidy as I could. But when it came time to leave the property, I was overwhelmed with the hoops my property manager insisted I jumped through to get my bond returned in full.

At one point or another, most of us have been in a similar position – apprehensive of that inspection date, hoping that we really have been the good tenant we thought we were. Between moving all your things into a new property and doing all you can to look like a perfect tenant, the process can be quite a taxing one.

Most of this stress can be avoided with a good understanding of how these inspections work, and knowing what is (and isn’t) expected of you. We built our business cleaning for the real estate industry, and in the past six years, we have cleaned thousands of properties, for both tenants and agents, so we know a thing or two about End of Lease Cleaning.

With the Australian property market making it increasingly difficult to own and maintain your own home, more and more Australians are choosing to rent for longer, and as such, it helps to know the ins and outs of renting. In this post, we have outlined a few key tips which will help you pass your inspection with flying colours if you’re staying; to get your bond back if you’re leaving; and of course ensure your rental record remains spotless.

1. Follow the Rental Checklist

Needless to say, most blemishes on rental references come from properties which have been left unclean. Each landlord or agency is unique, and therefore no one can give you a checklist that covers all bases. With that said, most agencies will provide you with a comprehensive cleaning checklist which should outline exactly what they require from you when then notify you of your inspection. Many of these checklists however, will include items which most people would rarely attend to on their regular cleaning schedule: Some will require you to clean windows, light fittings, the oven, range hood, and exhaust fans, for example, while others won’t even mention them. It’s up to you to pay attention and ensure all required items are cleaned. Download the AMS End of Lease Cleaning Checklist here.

2. Don’t Leave it to the Last Minute

Having someone come into your home and ‘assess’ your living conditions is intrusive enough – the worst thing you can do is leave it to the last minute, but it’s an easy mistake to make. If you’re vacating the property, the final clean should be left until the property is empty, so try to organise a buffer period where you can move your furniture and belongings into your new property a few days before the final inspection of your existing property, that way you will give yourself breathing room and won’t need to rush your final clean, so if you run into problems – or if you just find that it’s all too much and you want to hire professionals – you have time to take care of it. It’s also worth noting that good cleaning companies will often be booked at least a week in advance, so if you’re looking to hire professionals to clean for your inspection, try to arrange this as soon as you know when your inspection date. Want us to do it for you? Book Here.

3. Clean and Tidy

There’s clean, and then there’s clean and presentable. There’s a big difference. If you’re vacating, it’s not so much of an issue, but if it’s just a routine inspection, pay close attention to how your home looks and feels, not just how clean it is. Take it as an opportunity to de-clutter a little. Get rid of old magazines, clothes and bric-a-brac, and take better advantage of shelves and cupboards. Clear surfaces like tables, desks and bench tops as much as possible. make sure the garbage is taken out and the dishes are cleaned and put away. Open your curtains or blinds and let in as much light as possible, and make your beds. Ideally, you want the property to look as open and spacious as possible, so try and remove anything that makes the place look cluttered.

4. Ensure Gardens are Well Kept

Usually, if you don’t like having a garden, you won’t lease a property with one. But if you have ended up in a property with a garden, it’s worth noting that more and more agencies require you to care for it for the duration of your lease, and will gladly deduct gardening costs from your bond should you let it fall into disarray. So, if you have a garden, ensure you are doing at least the bare minimum to keep it looking lush and inviting. Watering, mowing, weeding and pruning away dead branches is often all it takes to make a messy garden look well kept. Again, don’t leave this to the last minute – spend a day or two bringing everything up to scratch well before your inspection date.

5. Make a Good First Impression

No one wants to make a bad impression. It’s important to remember that an agents job is first and foremost to take care of the owners interests. It is a big risk to allow a stranger into your property and leave them to their own devices for 3-6 months before checking in. This is why it’s important to make a very good first impression on your property manager. Reading this list is a very good place to start, and doing little things like ensuring there are no oil stains or weeds on the driveway, that there are no cobwebs or clutter around your front door and making sure the garbage bin isn’t overflowing are all good ways to make a great first impression.

Property managers are often under a lot of pressure from landlords, and making a good impression on your first inspection is a great way to get your property manager on your side, and can often be the difference between a quick, five-minute inspection and a thirty-minute detailed walk-through.

6. Relocate Your Pets

Pets are one of the most common reasons for tenant evictions in Australia. That being said, a ‘No Pets’ policy often poses little deterrence to pet lovers, and if you’re in this category, there are extra steps you will need to take to ensure a trouble-free inspection. First of all, relocate your furry friend(s) a few days before your inspection to make sure there are no residual pet smells around. Clean sliding glass doors, remove any pet toys from the property and get the carpets steam cleaned if necessary. Just remember that if your lease does not allow for pets, and your property manager suspects there are animals kept on the premises, you may find yourself with more frequent inspection notices, and if you are caught, even an eviction notice, and no one wants that. If your agreement allows pets, make sure they are secured; no property manager enjoys dealing with barking or jumping dogs.

A Note on Pets: When a landlord hands over their property to a manager, they will be given a checklist asking what they will and won’t allow. It’s easier and safer for them to tick a box saying ‘no pets’ than to run the risk of pets damaging their investment. So, if you know your pet won’t be causing any issue, it’s worth asking your agent for an exception because they are well trained, etc. And if you already have an illegal pet living with you and you want to make the arrangement legitimate, try telling your agent that a family member will be travelling overseas and wants you to look after their pet. test the water without committing to anything. You may find that the landlord will decide in favour of your case as it’s easier than finding a new tenant.

7. Identify Maintenance Issues

The silver lining of the rental inspection process is that they also serve as a platform for you to raise the concurs you have as well. Make the most of the opportunity and write a list of anything you feel needs attention. Many inspection notices will also include a maintenance request form, which you can use to formally request maintenance issues to be rectified. Structural issues like leaking roofs, broken handles, and plumbing or electrical problems are usually the responsibility of the landlord, while simple things like garden maintenance, replacing light bulbs and carpet stains are usually up to the tenant to take care of. Laws and regulations will vary from state to state and country to country, but generally the State Tenancy Board (or similar) requires maintenance repairs to be carried out with in thirty days of notification.

Rental inspections don’t need to be stressful. They can be a great opportunity to spring clean, de-clutter and get things fixed or updated. At the end of the day, most inspections are over in just a few minutes and most managers just want to be assured you are looking after the landlord’s investment.

If you’d like us to take the pain out of cleaning your home prior to your rental inspection, you can read more about our services here: End of Lease Cleaning. Mention this article and get a 10% discount.