Help us help you, to get your bond back!

For your information:

• Please refer to our VACATE CHECKLIST outlining the required actions for tenants to complete before returning keys as per your Residential Tenancy Agreement.
• We have included CLEANING ADVICE to assist you with your bond refund.
• Please see our STEP-BY-STEP CLEANING GUIDE (included in this pack) which provides a day-to-day list of tasks to avoid having too much cleaning to do on the last day.
• If you would like to schedule a PRE-VACATE MEETING with a member of our office please call 02 6372 3000 to arrange a suitable time.
• All KEYS must be returned to our office at 128 Church Street Mudgee on or before your confirmed vacate date. Rent is payable inclusive of this date and until all keys are returned.
• Our agency requires a forwarding address and telephone number for all tenants whose names appear on the Residential Tenancy Agreement.
• You are welcome to attend the VACATE INSPECTION - please call 02 6372 3000 to make this arrangement.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING: when you hand the keys in to our office on the nominated vacate date, the property MUST be in a condition to re-let. Failure to ensure this will result in additional rental charges until such time as all issues/cleaning has been completed. We have provided you with CLEANING ADVICE, a VACATE CHECKLIST and a STEP-BY-STEP CLEANING GUIDE as a reference to assist you with complying with this requirement.

Please also be aware of the following:

Reletting of the Property

• Please contact our office to notify us what date/s and time/s would be suitable for us to hold an inspection of your property for the purposes of showing prospective tenants;
• We will not hold an inspection until we have confirmed suitable date/s and time/s with you;
• An inspection will take no longer than 10 minutes and will be scheduled at a time that suits you; and
• We welcome you to be present at the inspection, however, if you are unavailable we would ask that you put your valuables away for the duration of the inspection.

Rental Payments

• Please remember to cancel any direct debit rental payments you may be using to pay your rent. 
• As we receive the payments we are UNABLE to cancel them on your behalf. 
• Take note of the rent and invoice amounts owing up until, and including, the day you hand the keys back. 

Bond

• You cannot use your bond to pay your outstanding rent or invoice amounts. 
• If your bond was lodged via the Rental Bonds Online website you will receive your bond amount within 48 hours of release (please note this is highly dependent on the outcome of your VACATE INSPECTION and you will be contacted if there are outstanding issues to address).

Electricity

• Please note that some electricity suppliers will read and disconnect the electricity meter on the day you vacate.
• If you are having the property cleaned, or having work carried out after you physically leave the property, ensure the final meter reading and disconnection of the service is arranged for a date AFTER this work is completed.

Water

• If you were responsible for paying for water usage during your tenancy, you will receive an invoice for the water used up until the vacate date.
• The water meter will be read on the vacate date and costs calculated.
• The invoice amount must be paid prior to the bond refund finalisation.

VACATING CHECKLIST

Please utilise the below checklist to ensure you are meeting your obligations as per your Residential Tenancy Agreement. Only hand the keys in once you have completed all required tasks and cleaning, noting rent is calculated up until, and including, the day you hand the keys to our office.

Please contact us on 02 6372 3000 to discuss any of the above or to ask questions you may have. 

If you have concerns about these requirements please contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

SUMMARISED CHECKLIST

1. Mail forwarded to new address
2. Water, gas, electricity and telephone accounts cancelled
3. All rubbish removed from the property
4. Driveway free of leaves, dirt and marks
5. Lawns mowed, trees/shrubs pruned, weeds removed
6. House and garage free of cobwebs inside & out
7. Garage empty and swept clean
8. Window tracks, frames and glass clean inside & out
9. Flyscreens free of dirt, dust and cobwebs
10. Blinds, verticals and curtains clean and free of dust
11. Fans, air conditioners, smoke alarms clean
12. All lights working throughout property
13. Light fittings and switches clean
14. All walls and ceiling free of marks and insect spots
15. All doors including front door and door frames clean
16. All cupboards and wardrobes empty and clean
17. Kitchen including oven and range hood clean
18. Bathroom, shower & vanity clean and hair free
19. Toilet clean, sanitised and hair free
20. Laundry clean, sink free of rust and foreign material
21. All hard floors mopped and free of debris
22. Patio's and veranda's swept and tidy
23. All personal items removed from the property
24. Bin empty and hosed out
25. Carpets professionally cleaned with receipt
26. All property keys returned to the Real Estate

VACATE CLEANING ADVICE

This checklist may assist to maximise your Bond refund.

The general definition of 'clean' is any area or item that cannot be enhanced with a cleaning product.

GENERAL

• Vacuum and clean all sliding doors and window tracks.
• Sweep and/or mop all non-carpeted floors, removing any marks.
• Carpets are to be left in the same condition as marked on the original condition report allowing for fair wear and tear. If required, carpets are to be cleaned.
• Carpets to be professionally cleaned and fumigated for fleas by a registered pest company where pets were permitted on the property (ensure a copy of the paid invoice is supplied). 
• Clean light fittings – gently remove light fittings and clean.
• Clean marks off walls, ceilings and light switches.
• Clean skirting boards, windows including frames, sills and tracks, above cupboards, picture rails, architraves and both sides of all doors, all other fittings, and insect/security screens etc.
• Clean curtains and blinds - call the office to confirm cleaning method if necessary.
• Clean in wardrobes, shelves, drawers and mirrored doors.
• Remove scuff marks.
• Remove all cobwebs and insect marks and nests.

KITCHEN

• Clean inside and outside of all cupboards and doors.
• Clean inside, outside and around stove.
• Clean inside and outside of oven, grill, doors, trays, racks, glass.
• Clean inside, outside and behind refrigerator and dishwasher and microwave space.
• Clean sink, especially drain holes, and tap ware.
• Range hood exhaust and filter can be removed and cleaned.

BATHROOM

• Clean all walls, floors, mirrors, windows and window tracks.
• Clean inside and outside all cupboards and drawers.
• Clean toilet, bath, shower recess, remove built up soap residue on tiles and shower screens, clean sink and all tap ware, towel rails.
• Clean water outlet in shower and bath, removing hair and soap build up.
• Wash shower curtain with bleach or replace if applicable.

LAUNDRY

• Clean behind, inside and around washing machine space. Clean equipment and filters if applicable.
• Clean inside, outside and around laundry tub, cabinets, shelves, drawers and tap ware.

AIR-CONDITIONERS

• Clean all air conditioner units and filters.

VERANDAH, DECKS, OUTDOOR AREAS

• Sweep and mop, clean railings, glass and light fittings.
• Remove all cobwebs etc.

GARAGE, CARPORT, DRIVEWAY

• Sweep out and remove any oil residue from concrete, pavers, paths, driveways.
• Empty council bins and place bins out on footpath for next collection
• Close and lock garage door, if applicable.

GARDENS AND LAWNS, POOL

• Mow lawn, trim all edges, weed gardens, general garden tidy, remove all rubbish.
• Return pool to condition as per condition report at start of the tenancy and supply Pool Test report to office – report to be completed at the end of tenancy.

IF FURNISHED

• Ensure all items are clean and are located in original rooms as per inventory list.

GARBAGE BINS

• Failure to comply with the below requirements upon vacating will result in a fee of $50.00 per bin to have them sorted and emptied.
• Most of our properties are provided with 4 bins. Please ensure that each bin is used accordingly;

                 Green Bin                    General Waste

                 Blue Bin                      Paper/Cardboard

                 Yellow Bin                  Glass/ Bottles/Plastic

                 Light Green Bin         Garden waste, Kitchen Scraps.

STEP-BY-STEP CLEANING GUIDE

This guide includes helpful hints from industry professionals to make your bond clean a success!

The booklet is designed with a time frame so you don't have too much cleaning to do on the last day. This guide will cover all essential cleaning tasks to complete a bond clean. Noting, individual circumstances may require a different approach and additional areas to be cleaned.

Cleaning Equipment and Chemicals you will likely need...

INSIDE PROPERTY

Equipment: dustpan, broom, cloth wipes, narrow vacuum nozzle (to fit window tracks), scouring sponges, paper towel, clean towels, medium size window squeegee, screwdriver to fit into window tracks, disposable gloves and a toothbrush. Mop and mop bucket, step ladder (or ladder), vacuum cleaner, general bucket, broom and cob web remover.

Chemicals: detergent or sugar soap, all purposes spray & wipe, creme cleanser, spray disinfectant, toilet bowl brush, oven and floor cleaner, insect spray.

OUTSIDE PROPERTY

Equipment: secateurs/pruning scissors, tree saw, outdoor broom, cobweb remover, firm hand scrubbing brush, lawn mower & edge trimmer. 

Chemicals: weed killer, driveway degreaser and outdoor insect spray.

1 month before the end of your lease... 

Cancel Utilities: organise a final reading of your electricity, gas, water & telephone accounts at the end of your tenancy.

Carpet Cleaning: if you have had a pet on your lease, or on the property during the tenancy, you are required to have your carpets professionally cleaned and are not permitted to clean the carpets yourself. Ensure you arrange the professional carpet cleaner to arrive the day before you hand the keys back and you submit the receipt to First National Real Estate.

Lawns: should be mowed within the last week of your tenancy. If you are not doing this yourself, book a gardener to mow the lawns. They can also weed and prune if required.

Pest Control: if any vermin are present, it is your responsibility to have them eradicated. You may need a professional pest control operator to spray the property. If you have had a pet on the lease or on the property during the tenancy, you are required to have the property professionally fumigated inside and outside.

Handy Hints

• Organise any tradespeople with enough notice to repair any property damage or maintenance necessary.
• If any walls need painting contact your real estate. They may be able to assist you, through the owner, to match paint exactly. Any mismatching paint, no matter how slight, will often require the entire room to be re-painted at your expense.

7 days before the end of your lease...

Inside Property

Use a step ladder or ladder to complete the following inside jobs:

• Remove and wash all light fittings, dry and replace. Check all light globes at the same time and change any blown globes.
• Wipe clean all ceiling fans, air conditioners (including internal filters) & smoke alarms. Remove exhaust fans in kitchen, toilet and bathroom, wash and replace.
• Check and clean all curtains and blinds of dirt, dust and marks. Venetian blinds often need to be wiped clean slat by slat. Some curtains can be washed on a gentle cycle. If not, vacuuming may help remove dirt and dust, then wipe clean.
• Check for fly and insect spots an all ceilings, sugar soap or mild detergent in a bucket of warm water with a sponge works well. Test a small spot to ensure it does not damage the paint.

Outside Property

• Scrub driveway with a stiff broom and detergent to remove oil and tyre marks. An oil degreaser and high pressure water cleaner may be needed for stubborn stains.
• Mow lawns, prune trees and bushes, remove all weeds and spray with weed killer if necessary. Check with your real estate if you need to replace any dead plants.
• Remove all rubbish from the yard, pay special attention to cigarette butts,bottle tops etc around gardens.
• Clean and sweep out garage, remove cobwebs, degrease floor and spray with insect spray if needed.

Handy Hint

• Make sure your bin is empty when the keys are returned. If this is not possible let your real estate know if you are able to bring it in and clean it on the next collection day.

3 days before the end of your lease...

Your property should ideally be empty of all your personal belongings, and your mail redirected to a forwarding address.

Window Cleaning

• Brush down all cobwebs outside the house before you start cleaning the windows with either a cobweb remover or a broom.
• Clean window tracks of dirt and build up by carefully running a screwdriver along the tracks to loosen the dirt. Vacuum with a narrow nozzle, and then wipe clean with a damp cloth on the screwdriver blade.
• Remove flyscreens by gently placing a screwdriver under the screen, lifting up and sliding to the left or right and pulling out. Do not force screens as they can bend easily. Hose flyscreens if necessary.

Handy Hint

• If flyscreens are too tight, you have security screens or 2nd story windows the sliding window generally comes out from the inside. You may need to loosen screws at the top of window (remember to re-tighten screws to original position).

Simple method to squeegee a window:

• Soap up window with a scourer sponge to remove all dirt and build up.
• With the window soapy & wet all over, wipe the top edge with a dry towel, this will reduce streaking.
• Slide the squeegee down the window with a firm steady pressure starting from either side.
• Dry squeegee blade after each stroke, continue until finished. Make sure each stroke slightly overlaps the last one to avoid lines.
• Dry edges and remove any remaining marks with a clean towel.
• Wipe frame and window ledge.

Handy Hints

• Internal windows can be cleaned the same way, just use less water on the sponge and place a towel under the window to prevent water damage.
• This technique can also be used on large mirrors and shower screens.

2 days before the end of your lease - last day of cleaning...

Bedrooms, living areas and hallways

• Remove all cobwebs and marks on walls. The walls may need to be washed with sugar soap or mild detergent in a bucket of water and a sponge. Check for any insect marks. Pay special attention to switches and door handles.
• Remove all personal hooks, posters, sticky tape etc.
• Wipe all skirting boards, doors and frames with a damp cloth.
• Vacuum all wardrobes and cupboards, wash with soapy water and dry.

Laundry, as above, paying special attention to:

• Laundry sink often has a build up of rust, calcium and soap scum, this can be removed with a crème cleanser and scourer sponge. Make sure drain is free of waste. Laundry cupboards often require the same process.
• Wipe all tap fittings and wall tiles (including the top of tiles, as they can be dusty). Scrub marks off floor with crème cleanser, especially where appliances have been.

Toilets

• Clean and disinfect all parts of the toilet, including fittings and cistern. Don't forget behind the toilet and pipes. Using a spray disinfectant, paper towel and disposable gloves is a safe and
  hygienic way to clean a toilet.
• Scrub inside of the bowl with toilet bowl cleaner and a toilet brush.
• Clean all wall tiles with spray disinfectant and a cloth. Wash any dirty walls.

Handy Hint

• All personal items such as toilet brushes, air freshener and toilet bowl scents must be removed. Even if they would be useful to the next tenant.

Kitchen Cleaning

• Remove all components of oven, range hood and stove, including the knobs if they come off. Soak in hot soapy water for as long as necessary (overnight if possible). Scrub with a firm scourer until clean.
• Clean oven as per oven cleaner directions, pay special attention to the glass. Replace oven components.
• Wash stove with soapy water, gently scourer if necessary to remove all marks and food build up. Polish dry with paper towel. Replace knobs and burners.
• Wipe and polish range hood including the underneath section, replace filters.
• Dishwasher including filters and racks must be free of all food scraps.

Handy Hints

• Using eucalyptus oil on a wash cycle will help eliminate odours.
• Vacuum out all cupboards, then wash with soapy water inside and out, especially around door handles, dry with a clean towel.
• Scrub out sink, drain must be free of waste, polish clean with paper towel.
• Spray and wipe all bench tops and wall tiles, polish to a nice shine.
• Scrub any food marks off flooring, ready for a final mop.

Bathroom/s

• Vacuum entire bathroom to remove any hair and foreign objects before you start cleaning.
• Wet & scrub entire shower with a crème cleanser and a scourer sponge especially in the corners, door frame and top of shower until no soap scum, mould or rust stains are visible. Rinse with water. Squeegee shower glass, then dry and polish with paper towel. Make sure drain is hair free.
• Clean exterior of shower with glass cleaner and paper towel.

Handy Hints

• If mould is present you may need a mould remover, a toothbrush is useful to get into the grout and tight areas.
• Scrub bath tub with a scourer sponge and crème cleanser and rinse thoroughly.
• Wipe out vanity and sink, scrub with a scourer if necessary to remove build up and any rust marks, ensure drain is hair free.
• Polish mirror and wall tiles with a glass cleaner and paper towel until streak free.

Floors

• Vacuum entire house ready for the carpet cleaner, sweep hard floors and mop. Make sure no hair or debris are left on flooring. Sweep veranda's and patio's.

1 day before you hand your keys in...

On this day carpets should be professionally cleaned. Do a final walk through using the checklist to ensure the property is in the correct handover state.

Handy Hint

• Let First National know if you are able to go back to the property to complete any cleaning or maintenance if necessary.