Surviving constant open inspections

THERE’S no two ways about it: open for inspections, whether that be for rental properties or when the owner decides to sell, are a major inconvenience for you as a tenant.

If the owner elects to sell the property privately, your residence could be on the market for months, meaning potentially dozens of open for inspections and the expectation that you’ll keep the property in consistently pristine condition each and every time.

So how do you, as a tenant, survive constant inspections? Here are some tips to help you through this potentially tough period.

Owners and agents expect a clean and presentable property whenever buyers or future renters are being shown through, and, unfortunately, that task falls to you as the current tenant.

Legally, agents need to give you 24 hours notice before an open for inspection, but Hocking Stuart Richmond agent Jo Leonardis says you can help yourself if you’re organised with your cleaning early.

Most agents recommend doing a major clean of the whole property at the start of a campaign, and then spot clean as required, rather than spending time cleaning large parts of the property each week.

While there will always be an agent in the property whenever it’s being inspected, they can’t be in every room at once, and you don’t want strangers eyeing off your most valued possessions.

You’re going to be seeing plenty of them, so it pays (often literally) to form a good relationship with your agent, who’s acting on behalf of the owner.

“Forming some sort of honest, nice relationship, where both parties can work together, is important,” Leonardis says.

— realestate.com.au