Are you about to move out of a rental property? It can be a stressful process, and there’s no doubt there’s a lot you’re trying to organise and stay on top of. Amongst all the things on your to-do list, one of your biggest priorities will be ensuring you get your rental bond back.

To help you on your way, we’ve put together this handy moving out checklist.

Check your condition report

One of the first things you should do before applying to get a bond back is check the original condition report against the current state of the property.

This will help you work out how much the condition of the property has changed since you first moved in. It will also help you work out what parts of your home will require extra attention. For example, parts that seem scrappier than originally noted.

Did you put holes in the wall to hang pictures or art? You’ll probably need to fill them, sand them back and touch them up with paint.

When your property manager does their final inspection this is what they’ll be using to work out if they need to deduct any money from your bond. So use it as a reference to ensure the property is as close as possible to its original condition.

Hire furniture removalists

An easy way to alleviate stress during the moving out of home process is to hire professional removalists to get your belongings from A to B.

There are plenty of removalist companies all over Australia and the cost of their services can range anywhere between $500 to $3500, depending on where you’re moving to and how much assistance you need. Help can range from one worker with a van through to an entire crew of removalists who will even pack, wrap and seal your belongings.

Cost can also be influenced by whether you’re in a regional area compared to a capital city. For example, you’re more likely to pay more per hour for removalists in Melbourne compared to a removalist in Lorne.

The best thing you can do is start by getting furniture removalist quotes in your area.

Get professional cleaners in

An essential component of any moving checklist is cleaning. The easiest way to give a property a deep clean is when everything’s moved out and free from clutter. No stone should be left unturned. You’ll want to wipe down walls, mop floors and steam-clean any carpeted flooring.

You should also pay attention to parts of the home that don’t get cleaned as often. For example, the tops of doors, picture rails, architraves and skirting. Be sure to treat any damp areas with mould killer and if accessible, don’t forget the exterior of the property too.

There are companies out there who specialise in end-of-lease cleans. They know exactly what your property manager is looking for and will get the job done accordingly. This can often be a better solution than trying to do it yourself. You can check out options for hiring a professional cleaner here.

Fumigate the property if you have a pet

Getting your bond back is crucial, but if you’re moving to another rental property with a pet in tow, getting a good reference for future applications is important too. So if you’ve had a pet on the property, hire a local pest control expert to spray the property before you leave.

Organise a pre-vacancy inspection

What you think is fine might be very different to the standards an agent would expect, so before you move out arrange for your property manager to have a look before you vacate.

In doing so, your property manager will be able to give advice around areas you need to spend more time on so that you can get your full bond back.

Related: Top tips for a smooth move

Make sure any issues are reported promptly

Throughout your entire lease, you should be in contact with your property manager if anything goes awry. Whether it’s a jammed blind, a cracked tile or a wine stain on the carpet, you should be in contact with your property manager as it happens, rather than waiting until you move out.

If you wait until you move out, this can delay the process of getting your rental deposit back in a timely fashion.

Be mindful of tenant obligations

As a tenant, you need to make sure that you provide correct notice to vacate. Rules can change from state to state, so make sure you do your research so that you can give your property manager an adequate time frame to work with. If you don’t, real estate agencies can recover unpaid rent from your bond balance.

In the same vein, make sure all outstanding utility bills have been paid, that you’ve handed back keys, and that you’ve organised mail forwarding to your new address with Australia Post.

In some instances where you and the landlord cannot come to an agreement on what is ‘reasonably clean’, both of you are eligible to apply for a ruling with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)