PREMISES

Apart from residential properties, we conduct inspections for commercial premises

CLERKS

The inventory clerks we work with have minimum 3 years experience in the field

INSURED

We are covered by public liability and professional indemnity insurance

COVERING

Services offered cover all London areas, within the M25 ring

Based on our experience, below we listed few suggestions to help you with the check-out process. Before you move out, make sure the property is clean. State of cleanliness often accounts for most of check-out comments. You can, of course, hire a professional cleaning company - we recommend this option. If you do (ask your agent, they might recommend someone, or maybe your friends went through a check-out process and can reccomend someone), remember to get a receipt and we suggest you use one that guarantees the service in case we note some omissions. We understand moving places is not a walk in the sun, but it is very important cleaning is done before the inspection. If it is done during, we can only state “cleaning in progress” and can’t check the final state. Also, we can only indicate "professionally cleaned" only if you have a receipt with you which we will then photograph and add to the report. Otherwise we can only go as far as saying "tenant advised property cleaned by professional company" and you should forward the receipt to your agent/ landlord. So... Dust. In particular check skirting boards, window sills, doors - especially when panelled, window recesses and panels, fittings and fixtures. Check bed top edges, picture frames, electric sockets, entrance phones. Food. It happens tenants leave food items in kitchen. So check fridge/ freezer, oven and cupboards... Linen.  Agents and landlords don’t want you to leave private linen items behind. The same goes for toiletry items and clothes. Look at it from their perspective, after all you wouldn’t want to check-in to a hotel room to find someone else’s jacket, shampoo and Star Wars themed duvet cover. Make sure linen items have been washed and ironed. If beds were made, leave them made, don’t leave it all on the bed, or in the wardrobe. Furniture. Whereas you are free to move furniture around, make sure you put them back to their original place. If you intend to leave furniture behind, please consult your agent/ landlord. Although you essentially add to the property, it might be that additional furniture are not welcome, next tenant may not want them, having been informed about the amount and type, whatever the case. This is especially so with unfurnished properties. Animals. First, check your contract. It might have a clause not allowing pets. If it does, keep a vigilant eye on them. Cats do not mix well with upholstery, especially leather, or leather like materials. They leave lots of scratches, they are keen on wooden surfaces too, skirting boards, doors and frames. Pets leave lots of hair. Make sure to clean all and don’t forget to check curtains, a frequent omission.   Walls. Remove all hooks and picture hooks. Fill holes with a proper agent, don't use sealant, or wood filler, it doesn't look good and you will likely be liable for necessary repairs. This is especially so with holes left from heavy TV wall brackets. You will probably leave some usage marks on walls, but heavy shoe prints, heavy scratches/ indents, pen/ pencil/ marker drawings are likely to result in a deposit deduction. Kitchen miscellaneous and other loose items. Please make sure you put all small items back where they were listed on the original inventory. A picture frame doesn’t have to go back on the same table, facing the same direction, as long as it is in the same room and is not hidden under the sofa. All items must be easily accessible, otherwise an error might arise on the report, mainly with large amount of such items in kitchen. Some tenants bag up all kitchen items, linen and so on (they only want to use their own) and reinstate it back at the end, ready for check-out. If you choose to do so, check whether the items are clean (after a year or more, they will need a wipe). DIY. We will check whether sinks, bath tubs, showers etc. drain easily, so make sure it is all alright (don’t worry, we don’t walk around with a plumbing tool box, checking each pipe piece, but, as we have during the original inventory, we will run taps, check whether mixers, shower hoses and heads aren’t leaking, check toilets). Do not forget to change burnt light bulbs. Make sure fire alarms are working, they might need a battery change. Check appliance manuals, certificates (gas, electric, energy efficiency, etc.) if such came with the property. Please note that during check-out inspections we note all changes. Whilst not all comments will apply to you as the tenant, all are listed. It is simply so that agent/ landlord knows the state of the property. We are their eyes and they rely on our reports. Remember to get permission for any changes. In such a case, if you agreed, say, to change curtains, we will still note it, but it will be just a necessary formality. We understand the above isn't going answer all of your questions, so feel free to contact us for more information.