Your bond is a significant sum of money, and the final inspection is where a decision is made about it. If you are renting in Melbourne, understanding what the property manager will look at helps you prepare, and helps you decide what to do yourself and what to book out. This page explains the inspection, the standard we clean to, and what our bond cleaning covers.
What your bond is for
When you rent, you pay a bond as security. At the end of the tenancy, the property manager inspects the property and compares it with the condition it was in when you moved in. If they believe cleaning or repairs are needed, that can affect how much of the bond comes back.
Cleaning is the part of that process most tenants can control. Damage and rent owing are separate matters, but a clean, well-presented property removes one common reason for disagreement.
What the agent inspection looks at
Property managers generally look at the whole property, but a few areas draw particular attention:
- Kitchen: the oven, cooktop, range hood and dishwasher, and inside the cupboards and drawers
- Bathrooms and laundry: limescale, soap scum and grout
- Windows: glass, tracks, sills and flyscreens
- Floors and carpets: vacuumed, mopped and free of marks
- Garage: swept out and free of cobwebs
Your entry condition report is the reference point. If a mark or stain is noted on it, that is on the record, and you are not expected to remove what was already there.
How inspectors tend to work
Inspections are usually methodical. An agent will often walk through room by room, opening cupboards and wardrobes, running a hand along surfaces, and checking under good light. They tend to look low and high: skirting boards, the tops of door frames, the inside of the oven and the extraction fan. That is why a clean that only covers what is visible from the doorway can fall short.
The REIV exit condition standard
Our bond cleans are done to the REIV exit condition standard. That means we work through the property with the end-of-tenancy inspection in mind, rather than giving it a general tidy. It is the reason the checklist below goes into cupboards, tracks and appliances, and not just the surfaces you see first.
What our bond cleaning covers
Our Bond & End of Lease Cleaning starts from $280 and includes:
- A 7-day re-clean guarantee, in writing
- Inside all cupboards, drawers and wardrobes
- Oven, cooktop, range hood and dishwasher
- Bathroom and laundry fully descaled
- Windows, tracks, sills and flyscreens
- Garage sweep and cobweb removal
Bond cleaning is our original specialty, and it is the service this business is named for. We started out doing bond cleans, and over the years added regular in-home cleaning as the business grew.
If the agent raises an issue
If your property manager raises a cleaning issue within 7 days, we come back and fix it free of charge. To make that work smoothly, tell us as soon as the agent gets in touch, let us know exactly what was raised, and keep any written feedback they send you. The sooner we have the detail, the sooner we can sort it out.
Add-ons that often come up at inspection
Carpets and windows are common sticking points. Carpet steam cleaning uses truck-mounted hot water extraction, starts from $35/room, includes spot and stain treatment, and pet odour treatment is available. Most carpets are walk-on dry within a few hours. Window cleaning starts from $8/window and covers glass, frames, sills, tracks and flyscreens. Both can be bundled with a bond clean and quoted as one job.
Preparing for the day of the inspection
A few small steps make the inspection smoother. Clear your belongings first, because cleaners and inspectors both need full access to cupboards, wardrobes and floors. Empty the fridge and the bins. Have your entry condition report and lease to hand, and if you can, be present at the inspection so questions can be answered on the spot. If the agent does raise a cleaning point, note it in writing and get in touch with us promptly so it falls inside the 7-day window.
Thinking about the clean before you move out
The best bond results come from treating the clean as part of the move, not an afterthought. Decide early whether you will do the whole job yourself, split it with a cleaner, or hand over all of it. A split often works well: you clear belongings, empty the fridge, remove hooks and fixings and take out rubbish, and we handle the oven, range hood, bathroom descale, tracks and flyscreens.
It also helps to walk the property a week or two before you leave. Note anything that looks like it needs more than a wipe, such as baked-on oven grease, limescale on the shower screen or marks on the carpet, so you can mention it when you book. We confirm the scope and give you a firm price before we book a time. Because our rates are the same for everyone, the price you are quoted does not depend on who you are or how you heard about us.
Who is doing the cleaning
Every cleaner holds a current National Police Check, and we carry $20 million public liability insurance. We are based at Bundoora and cover all 386 Melbourne metro suburbs, with the northern suburbs getting our fastest response. Our rates are the same for everyone, whether or not you have any connection to the NDIS.
How booking works
Call us and most quotes take under five minutes. If you would rather write it down, use the form and we reply the same business day. We confirm the scope and give you a firm price, then book a time, usually within two to four business days. We are open Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm, with public holidays by arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What do property managers check at a bond inspection?
They compare the property to the entry condition report. Kitchens, bathrooms, windows and floors are the usual focus, including the oven, range hood, tracks and sills.
What is the REIV exit condition standard?
It is the exit condition standard we clean to on every bond clean, so the job is aimed at the end-of-tenancy inspection.
What if the agent isn’t happy with the clean?
If your property manager raises a cleaning issue within 7 days, we come back and fix it free of charge.
Do you clean carpets as part of a bond clean?
Carpet steam cleaning is a separate add-on, from $35/room, and can be bundled into one quote.
Do you charge different rates for different people?
No. Our rates are the same for everyone in Melbourne.
Can I book a weekend clean?
Yes. We are open Saturday 8am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm.
Book your bond clean today. Call 0401 398 705 or get a free quote.
Related pages
- End of Lease Cleaning in Melbourne: The Room-by-Room Tenant Checklist
- Vacate Cleaning in Melbourne: Plan Your Move-Out Timeline
- Bond Back Cleaning in Melbourne: Giving You the Best Chance at Your Deposit
- End of Tenancy Cleaning in Melbourne: From Notice to Handover
- End of Lease Cleaning in North Melbourne
- End of Lease Cleaning in South Melbourne
- Bond Cleaning in Bundoora: A Local Team With a Written Guarantee
See also our services, contact page and free quote form.