Our top 10 tips for vacating a rental
It’s not exactly the most enjoyable thing in the world but vacating a rental doesn’t have to be stressful.
In fact, with the right approach, vacating a rental property can be stress-free – it just takes a little foresight, planning and organisation.
Know your timeline
Regardless of who’s choice it was for you to vacate the property, it’s important to get crystal clear on the dates and the timeline.
Often, this involves working back from the date the rental agreement ends, which is when you are required to hand back the keys to the property.
Knowing that date, consider what needs to be done and when it should be undertaken, including the removal of your furniture and possessions, cleaning of the property, pest control etc.
Downsize and de-clutter
More possessions and furniture equals more things to move and greater expense, so declutter and get rid of any extraneous items well in advance of your move date.
Start packing early
As part of the decluttering process, take a good hard look around your property and consider what could be packed early.
The more you can get done in advance, the smoother things are likely to go and the less stress you will feel about the move in general.
Go room by room
Often it’s best to approach a removal by going room by room.
Go through each room, including the cupboards, considering what you can get rid of, what you can pack early, and also how much cleaning of that room will be required during the exit.
Then, once your furniture has been removed, work your way methodically through the property cleaning each room from top to bottom.
Outsource what you can
On that note, it can be helpful to outsource whatever you can, including but not limited to:
- A professional exit clean
- Exterior clean and garden tidy
- Removalist
Book your services
In addition to the above, you might also need to book services such as pest control and carpet cleaning.
Once you know your timeline for exiting the property, plan for these services to be undertaken in the final days before you hand back the keys and book these services well in advance.
Don’t forget the exterior
While most of your attention might be directed to the interior of the property, don’t overlook the exterior.
This includes tending to the garden, mowing any lawns, cleaning exterior windows, generally tidying the outside areas, and replacing any exterior lightbulbs that aren’t working.
Organise your utilities
Part of the moving process that sometimes gets overlooked is the disconnection of any utilities.
Don’t forget to ring your telephone/internet provider, electricity company and gas provider to finalise the accounts for the property and have the services disconnected on your exit date.
Consult your Entry Condition Report
The Entry Condition Report that you signed when you first started your rental agreement is the key document that should guide your exit.
This document offers a detailed insight into the condition of the property when you arrived, and consulting it closely allows you to return the property to the condition you found it in.
As part of this process, consider any damage which you might have caused which might need to be rectified prior to the vacate inspection.
Bins and keys
Once the final clean has been completed, don’t forget to put out the property’s bins to ensure all rubbish is removed, and return the keys to your property manager.
In the days after you exit, the property manager will conduct a final ‘vacate inspection’ of the residence, with a view to returning your bond as soon as possible.
How we can help
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.
We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.
Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.
