Rental inspections are a necessary evil for renters.<\/strong><\/p>\n Rarely convenient and always coming around quicker than you think, they\u2019re nonetheless the only way for a landlord to ensure their very expensive asset is being looked after properly.<\/p>\n But you don\u2019t want to give the property manager any cause to inspect the property more often than they absolutely have to, so it\u2019s important that the home is in tip-top shape on inspection day.<\/p>\n A simple rental inspection checklist is a good way to ensure you don\u2019t miss anything when giving the property a once-over.<\/p>\n Peggy Willcox, from Penrith\u2019s Mooney Real Estate<\/a>, says there are a number of key areas you need to check off before the property manager arrives.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important for the landlord to see that the property is well maintained. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s somewhat common sense, of course, but the property should be presented to the property manager almost as clean as it was on the day you moved in.<\/p>\n That means fixing any holes in walls, wiping dusty surfaces, vacuuming and mopping, as well as putting away dishes and any other items that might create an untidy appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cGeneral wear and tear is OK, but you need to present it in the same way that you\u2019ve had it handed over to you. If I saw grubby fingerprints on the wall, for example, I\u2019d expect those to be cleaned,\u201d Willcox says, adding that there also should be nothing impeding the agent\u2019s walk through the property.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I can walk from one end of the house to the other and open up every door and get into every room, I\u2019m pretty happy with that,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Make sure the home is clean and tidy on inspection day. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Bathrooms are an obvious area for scrupulous inspection attention, so it pays to put in a little extra effort to ensure yours is gleaming.<\/p>\n Willcox says tile grout needs to be scrubbed, while taps, drains and plugholes should also be shown some love.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just making sure there\u2019s no soap scum build-up, and obviously any mould in the bathrooms needs to be removed regularly,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s not only the inside of the property that\u2019s being inspected \u2013 the gardens will usually be checked, too.<\/p>\n Mowing the lawns is a gimme, as is weeding, and cutting back any unruly bushes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The gardens will usually be checked, too. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Willcox says you want to avoid giving the impression that there will be a mountain of maintenance work to do if you suddenly decide to move out.<\/p>\n \u201cGardens are a big thing that we feel people neglect. We want to see that you\u2019re not going to move out in a few months\u2019 time and leave a ton of work to do outside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf they are allowed pets, make sure there\u2019s no dog poo in the backyard. If you walk out there and it stinks and you can\u2019t get from one end of the garden to the next, that\u2019s a bit of a warning sign to us that we need to watch the property closer.\u201d<\/p>\n If an agent wants to see if you\u2019re really looking after the property, they\u2019ll check around your rangehood and air conditioning<\/a>.<\/p>\n Willcox says it\u2019s an area her agency always checks to ensure the property\u2019s expensive appliances are being maintained correctly.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re things that tenants often forget to check. You want to be cleaning those out quite regularly just to make sure they\u2019re not getting damaged and are still working efficiently,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Tenants often forget to check\u00a0rangehood fans and air conditioning filters. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n First impressions count, and if the property manager\u2019s first impression upon stepping through the front door is that there\u2019s a funky smell, you can expect plenty more scrutiny.<\/p>\n \u201cAir the house out a couple of days beforehand if you usually have everything locked up,\u201d Willcox advises.<\/p>\n Old furniture<\/a>, broken fridges and other unwanted items that typically get stashed down the side of the house on the front verandah are a huge no-no and need to be moved, Willcox says.<\/p>\n \u201cCall and get a council pick-up a month before your inspection. Just book a pick-up as soon as you get your notice.\u201d<\/p>\n Willcox says that while landlords are allowed to request up to four inspections each year, a couple of smooth inspections will usually result in a much more lenient inspection schedule.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"rental](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/03155350\/rental-inspection_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n1. Make sure the place is tidy<\/h2>\n
![\"tidy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/03155357\/tidy-house_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1499&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n2. Really clean the bathroom<\/h2>\n
3. Pay attention to the yard and garden<\/h2>\n
![\"36](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/28070040\/capi_78853a31c1ed2098545b00c4c070924f_7f592a430ca49e7d43c4e16f0d50ca6c.jpeg?resize=1023%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n4. Check exhaust fans and air con<\/h2>\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/08173305\/kitchen_family_rangehood_getty_article.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n5. Air the place out<\/h2>\n
6. Ditch the junk<\/h2>\n
![\"messy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/03154047\/messy-house-front_800x600.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
Remove any rubbish lying around. Picture: Getty\u201dRemove any rubbish lying around. We don\u2019t want to see the side of the house with branches littered around, or broken down appliances.\u201d<\/p>\n