So it’s time to find a new rental. Whether it’s your first time, or your fiftieth, it helps to have a definitive reminder of everything you need to do before, during and after a move.

From the absolute must-dos to a few finer touches, we asked renters from around Australia to help us build this handy checklist for you to follow when moving into a new rental.

1. Read your tenancy agreement

Tenancy agreements are usually fairly standard but every now and then an unexpected item creeps in.

Some properties are stricter than others, with various rules about pets, smoking, flames (including cooking), cleaning and maintenance expectations.

“My lease is fairly standard and I’ve never had any big issues,” Hobart-based renter Rachel says. “But I did have one lease that restricted fire use, which meant I wasn’t technically allowed to have candles.”

Remember your lease is a legal document, so it also never hurts to have more than one person read through it with you.

2. Check your condition report and take photos

The lease also comes with a condition report that details the precise state of the property before you move in. It should describe the aesthetic and functional condition of everything – just don’t assume everything is correct.

“There were photos in my condition report that were completely different to how the house is now. Like, the stove pictured was a totally different stove! This was a red flag for me to go through everything thoroughly,” Tim from Melbourne says.

Let your landlord or agent know of any discrepancies as soon as you can and jot them down on the report itself before signing off.

The most vital part of this step, however, is take photos! The more detailed you can be about the condition of your property before you move in, the more security you will have when it comes time to move out and collect your bond.

3. Get insurance before you move

That’s right – before you move! Setting up your insurance prior to settling in can help protect you from issues that might arise during or directly after the move.

For instance, Youi contents insurance has a ‘Contents in Transit’ option that will cover you for damage caused by a motor vehicle accident or fire during a professional moving job.

Theft and environmental emergencies are also issues that could arise during or shortly after your move, which is why it’s best not to delay your cover. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry and get your insurance sorted ASAP.

4. Do a little Googling

The internet is a deep hole with a lot of conflicting information, but sometimes it’s important to just Google your address and see what you find.

“I once Googled my address on a whim and found it on a forum for mould hazards!” Rachel exclaims.

A general internet search is great, but it’s also good to check your council website to see if there are any issues that haven’t been disclosed, such as planned building works nearby.

5. Check power points

In this ever-plugged-in world, the location of your power points can play a big role in how you lay out your space.

“When I moved into my last place, I didn’t realise until I was already in that the only power point in my room was across from where I would put my bed. It was so inconvenient,” share-houser Jonny shares.

Like most people nowadays, Jonny needs power for multiple items too.

“I have a keyboard, a TV, gaming stuff, I’m always charging my phone or my laptop, in winter I have a heater – so I figured out pretty quickly that [electrical] points are a fairly big deal for me.”

It’s particularly important to take note of power points in the kitchen and laundry as the location of some appliances often isn’t negotiable!

6. Take measurements

Speaking of appliances, before you move in, try to take some rough measurements of the space and make a layout.

“I had this fridge that I was bringing from my last house, and I genuinely thought it would fit in my new kitchen. But I was very wrong,” Tim admits.

He eventually needed to sell that fridge and buy a new one that fit the dimensions of his new kitchen, so there’s a moral to that story…

7. Have a game plan

When it comes to the actual move, have a strategy.

Rachel, who has moved six times in almost as many years, claims to have a system down pat.

“My first tip would be to check out parking before the day-of. I’ve lived mostly in cities, and there often isn’t the luxury of time and space for the moving van,” she starts.

“I would also unload big items first, like my bed. Although most of the time I just like to get everything out of the truck as fast as I can so it can move along. Time is money.

“The other thing is try to have some [cleaning] wipes handy, at the very least. I’m a bit of a clean freak, so I like to give the surfaces a bit of a wipe down before settling in.”

There you go – from the essential but boring stuff like commissioning a condition report to the easy-to-forget small things like keeping a Chux handy, our renters have plenty of tips.

Need any more? Just ask. Your friend, neighbour or colleague will have plenty of advice – all that’s left is to listen. Happy moving day!

Source: realestate.com.au

The information published in this article is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or particular needs. We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content.