Things to consider when inspecting a property
Before you inspect the property
Prior to viewing any properties, it is a good idea to prepare yourself and think about the things you would like to know about the property. It is best to develop a list of questions to ask the landlord or real estate. Some of these questions could be asked over the ‘phone prior to booking an appointment, and may help you decide if the property is suitable for you and therefore worth inspecting. Some examples of questions you may wish to include in your search check list include:
About the property
- Is your property/room still available for rent?
- Is it available now, or on a set date?
- What is the address and how do I get there?
Rent, Lease and Bond
- How much is the rent per week?
- How do I pay the rent? And do you require me to pay rent in advance? If so, how many weeks?
- Do I have to pay a bond? If so, how much?
- Will the bond be lodged with the RTBA?
- Will I receive receipts for all payments made?
- What does the rent include? Are utilities included? Water? Electricity? Gas? Telephone? Internet? Cleaner? Gardener?
- What is the lease term? How many months?
- If the lease term is not fixed? What does that mean?
Shared Houses
- Can you tell me what kind of atmosphere the house has? Party house? Study house?
- Can you tell me about the other people living here?
- Can I meet any of them today?
Furnishings
- Is the home furnished? If so, what is included in the bedroom/kitchen/living/dining and other shared areas?
- Are the bathrooms shared, and if so how many people share each bathroom?
Location and Transport
- Is there public transport nearby? Or how long would it take to walk to campus?
- Where can I park my car? Is there on-street or off-street parking?
Booking the inspection
When you find a property you would like to inspect, you can book an appointment yourself with the landlord or real estate, or contact a Housing Officer to assist you with the booking. When you have found a property you would like to inspect -
- Check that you know the address and what transport you will take to get there.
- Be punctual for the appointment.
- If you are unable to attend the appointment, contact the landlord or estate agent to inform them, and possibly make another appointment.
The inspection
When you go to the inspection, it is important to look carefully at the condition of the property. This will help you decide if it is an environment in which you can see yourself living. Below is a list of things to look for or do-
- Meet with the current occupants if possible, and remember if you choose this property, these are the people you will be living with. In order to get a good fit, consider the background of the current occupants. Are they quiet or loud? What are their study habits? Are they older or younger? What are their personalities and lifestyles like? How does all this fit with your lifestyle and expectations?
- Is the property clean or messy? How does that fit with your living style?
- Are the property and fixtures in good working order?
- Does the property have adequate security? Does it have security screens on the front or back doors? Does the property have dead locks on the external doors, and do they work properly?
- Do the individual bedrooms have locks?
- Does the property have smoke detectors and do they all work?
You may be living in a property for up to 12 months so, if there is something you see that you are not sure about, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
