We all know what it’s like, you have visitors coming and in the ten minutes before they arrive, you do the most cleaning you have done compared to the whole week prior!
Well, with the excitement of Fortress WA opening up on 3 March and interstate and overseas visitors at the ready, property owners are poised to get their property tenant ready.
Feel free to use our detailed checklist in your preparations.
CLEANING GUIDE
- Walls - Please clean off any dirty marks, removable scuff marks, finger or food marks
- Ceiling - Please remove any cobwebs
- Ceiling mould – Please clean off particularly in wet areas and sometimes in bedrooms
- Light Fittings – Clean off dust and remove any dead insects from inside
- Ceiling Fans – Wipe fan blades and tops of fittings to remove dust build up
- Skirtings – Wipe down with a damp cloth
- Doorways & Doors – Wipe off finger marks and any other removable marks
- Windows – Clean inside and out. Most modern sliding aluminium windows can be lifted and pulled out for easy cleaning. Dust and remove dead insects - a vacuum cleaner & paintbrush can help
- Flyscreens – Brush and dust down
- Screen Doors – Front and back including frames – wiped clean and screen wire brushed
- Stoves – Clean stove top, control display, knobs, panels around knobs, any pull out or built-in drip trays & any inserts, oven racks, trays and oven bottom, walls and oven roof. Some cleaners can actually hinder oven surfaces (like stainless steel) and also some products have dangerous caustic fumes. Therefore, use with extreme caution!
- Kitchen Range hood – clean pull-out filters and framework
- Bathroom – Clean sink, mirror, cabinet, vanity unit and draws, shower recess, glass screen and screen door, bath and wall tiles.
- Please ensure the bath and sink both have a plug available
- Toilet – Clean cistern, seat, bowl inside and also outside around the base. Don’t forget the skirting tiles around the toilet
- Laundry – Clean both the inside and outside of the trough and underneath. Please ensure a plug is present
- Tiling – All tiling and grouting to the kitchen, toilet, bathroom and laundry areas must be clean
- Exhaust – Vents and fan covers must be free of any dust and dirt
- Air-conditioners – Front vents and filters cleaned of built up dirt. (Modern systems 9wall type) filters easily pull out and can be brushed down with a hand brush. If there is a ducted reverse-cycle unit the air intake filter should be cleaned. This is usually on the ceiling in the passage area
- Air-Conditioning ceiling duct vents – Please clean if dusty or dirty
- Cupboards/drawers – Please clean/wash inside and out. Also, doors and door frames, front and back of doors need to be cleaned
- Curtains – Wash any washable curtains and netting. If other curtains are visibly dusty or dirty consider dry cleaning
- Blinds – If you have venetian blinds, clean off the blind slats. Any other type of blinds should be able to be wiped down
- Floors – To be mopped/washed if needed. Please ensure corners and hard to get areas are also cleaned
- Carpets – To ensure a greater chance of the carpet being returned by a tenant professionally cleaned, we ask that the carpets be professionally cleaned by the owner prior to renting. Please asks us if you would like us to recommend someone.
OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY
- Lawns – Freshly mowed and edged (best done a couple of days before the tenant takes possession
- Gardens – Remove any weeds, any rubbish and built-up leaves etc.
- Reticulation – It is imperative if the property has reticulation that it is all in good working order as this is a common bond dispute. Please ensure that all sprinkler heads are working, gras has been cleared from around the retic heads and that it is set for the correct watering days and times.
- Ask us if you would like us to recommend someone for this.
- Guttering – Please ensure that the gutters are freshly cleaned of any dirt/silt and leaves/twigs
- Rubbish – Remove any rubbish that you have placed at the property. Be sure to check behind sheds, under shrubs and trees. This includes lawn clippings and compost left
- Sweep paths and paved areas – This is best done just before the tenant takes possession
- Oil spillage removal – Check and clean carport and garage floors, paths and the driveway. If you have used a BBQ check for any grease spots or spillages etc.
- Cigarette Butts – If there are cigarette butts lying around, please pick up and remove
- Garages and tool sheds – Please remove any items from inside and behind garages and tool sheds. The only things that should remain are items directly related to the property (for example spare roof tiles, other spare tiles and paint tins etc)
IF YOU HAVE A PET
- Pet Droppings – please remove from gardens, lawns and any out of the way areas and dispose of in the bin. Please do not bury them
- Dog Urine – Remove/clean where your pet may habitually urinate (base of walls, veranda posts etc)
- Dog stains – To outside walls, check where your dog regularly lies down, there may be tell-tale signs on walls etc
- Dog/Cat claw damage – Check screen doors, flyscreens and curtains. Please replace the flyscreen wire if necessary
- Dog chew damage – Please ensure watering systems are free of dog chew damage and are repaired if necessary
- Pet hair – Please ensure any visible pet hair is removed
At Peard Real Estate, we believe good business exists from building long-term relationships not just with our landlords, but with our tenants. Both relationships are paramount to our success. As our valued landlord, you can rest easy, knowing your we work hard for your investment’s maximum return, security and your personal trust. We also take a proactive approach to actioning maintenance with owner approval in order to keep properties in shape, thereby minimising vacancy periods between tenancies.
Get in touch with your local Peard Real Estate office to discuss with our Property Management team about your real estate management goals.