As a landlord or tenant have you ever wondered what the difference is between a final bond inspection and a routine inspection? As property managers we get this question quite frequently and feel it is very important that we point out the differences.
Final Inspections
Depending on the size of your property the final bond inspection can take several hours. This inspection is done at the end of the tenancy and can be quite a long and very thorough process, with often plenty of follow up post inspection.
We use the ingoing property condition report that the tenant was given at the start of the tenancy and view all items in the house, for example skirting, blinds, bench tops and appliances as to how they present now compared to the start of the tenancy
After checking through every single item in the house it is not uncommon that some things may need further attention by the tenant. However, it should be noted that this is often not a reflection on the tenancy as we appreciate the busy and stressful time moving from one place to the next can be – its simply easy to overlook some items.
Occasionally we get feedback from tenants along the lines of ‘Why was this not picked up at my inspection?’ or ‘I have always had great inspections’. However, in a final bond inspection the house is completely vacant with no furniture and no distraction, therefore everything is on show and clearly visible for us to see. Routine Inspection on the other hand are carried out with the property obviously occupied and full of furniture, so not all areas are always visible.
Whilst carrying out the final inspection we are also updating the new ingoing report ready for the new tenant – it is important that if there are any changes to the house that they are noted on the new report for the next tenancy.
Routine Inspections
Routine inspections are normally carried out every three months dependant on the landlords’ instructions. In our office we use an iPad to carry out the inspection and do a general overview whilst reporting on how the house has been maintained throughout the tenancy, including wear & tear, maintenance, any suggested improvements and cleanliness. These inspections, depending on the size of the house, can take between 15 and 25 minutes to complete.
Our team at Wellington & Reeves will then send off a written report, including photos, to the landlord so they can see how their investment property is being maintained.
