Your bond is usually four weeks’ rent — too much to lose over a missed oven or a dusty skirting board. The good news: passing the final inspection is mostly about knowing what property managers actually check.
Start with your entry condition report
Your goal is to return the property to its condition at move-in, minus fair wear and tear. Pull out the entry condition report and photos you were given at the start of the lease and use them as your benchmark for every room.
The areas inspectors check first
- ✓Oven, rangehood and stovetop — the #1 reason bonds get docked
- ✓Inside cupboards, drawers and wardrobes
- ✓Bathroom grout, glass, exhaust fans and behind the toilet
- ✓Skirting boards, window tracks, light switches and door frames
- ✓Carpets (steam-cleaned if you had pets or it’s in the lease)
- ✓Walls — marks and scuffs
- ✓Outside: balcony, garage, and the letterbox
When to call in a professional
If you’re short on time or the lease requires a professional vacate clean with a receipt, booking a bond clean with a re-clean guarantee removes the risk entirely. If the agent flags anything, the cleaner returns free of charge — and you keep your bond.