Real Estate Agents

jordan · 22-07-2007, 11:02 AM

Picked up our keys for our new rental on Friday just gone. What a shock i had when i got there. My personal opinion the house was dirty. Screens thick with dust, windows i could write my name in, door runners dead insects. Hair left in the bathroom. The garden has brown patches in the grass where the previous owners dog tinkled, no new seeds put down. I have phoned the agent and the property managers off sick, so she will call me on Monday.

Don't actually move into next Friday thank god, had to leave some of our furniture in the garage. The real estate agent of the house I'm in at the moment has sent me a to do list of all the things they expect us to do before leaving. There is so much to do, so we have got a professional cleaner to come in. Are all estate agents the same with the cleaning process when vacating. Or have i got a fussy agent at the moment that likes everything to be perfect or a new agent that are not doing there job properly. The agent we have our new house with is a well known company. Can i ask for a professional to go into clean before i move in at there expense. I have a feeling no one went around to check the house before they handed the keys to us. Other wise they would have known about a pair of curtains that was taken down and left in the garage.

What can i do, can they get away with this.

Stacey

calNgary · 22-07-2007, 11:09 AM

I have heard so many horror stories about getting your bond back when you leave the rental,be careful.We were advised to go around the property with a camcorder before you move any furniture in ,taking a note especially of skirtings for bumps and marks.I know a family who had $50 deducted for a cobweb left under the patio,you do need to make a note of everything no matter how minor you think it is and get your agent to sign it .We bleached our rental floor to ceiling when we left and did the general tidy up outside,cut the grass ,clean gutters etc ,and luckily we had no problems and got full bond back ,although they did try,,'' your a weeks rent short'' ,so keep all your rent reciepts as proof.

Cal x

fatpom · 22-07-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordan

...have i got a fussy agent at the moment that likes everything to be perfect or a new agent that are not doing there job properly. Can i ask for a professional to go into clean before i move in at there expense. What can i do, can they get away with this.

Stacey

Your experience (the vacating process) is pretty normal I'm afraid.
The condition of the house you are entering is unusual but then it happened to us. The house was newly sold so the vacating owners left the house in the condition normal for vacating sellers but not normal for vacating renters. Notwithstanding your rights you won't get very far by complaining but don't take it laying down either.
You are unlikely to get an agent to agree to pay for any cleaning unless its really bad & the landlord is also unlikely to approve the expense but ask anyway... ruffle their feathers a bit. :)
Some agents will use any ruse available to extract some of your bond. Try not to give them the satisfaction. If you get professional cleaners in make sure the agents see a copy of the receipt at final inspection but don't let them take the only copy. Keep all correspondence until you are sure that there will be no comeback on you - say? 12 months.

jordan · 22-07-2007, 12:14 PM

Thank you i am going to speak to the property manager tomorrow, i will let you know how we get on.

Stacey

jordan · 23-07-2007, 11:18 AM

UPDATE:
Got to speak to the property manager today, and she said that in her opinion it was clean. I argued the fact it was definitely not and she said that she would get the window tracks cleaned and the walls. I was not happy with this, so i asked for her managers telephone number. Her manager told me to get the work done and send her the receipt.

Not looking forward to handing in my condition report tomorrow

Stacey

Squizb1 · 09-08-2007, 04:58 PM

You will need to have the house cleaned and returned in a rentable condition. This will show that you have have kept it cleaned and maintained throughout your tenancy.

Sounds like the new agency isn't as pro as it should be.

If you don't get it cleaned they can take it out of the bond.

You must always complete a PCR - Property Condition Report - if the agent doesnt do them (they should as it protects the tenants,agents and landlords) do one yourself!!!

Dust on exterior windows or kitchen benchtop, brown small patches of lawn, unswept patio etc can't really be considered an issue. Reason being 'natures elements' - dry period of weather, lots of wind/seabreeze etc. There is prob a gap between tenants leaving and new ones coming in and the agent can't be liable for it. Prob moving in to new place - watering the garden etc and getting it up to a standard that you want to live in!!! The first few weeks of pain

Keep copies of receipts for your records.

Note the curtains on the PCR but don't go into finiky detail - ie speck of dirt in bath, scratch on 5th floor tile in walk in pantry. These should be classified as general wear and tear and not tenant responsibility. Now iron on carpet burn mark in carpet IS tenant - the iron doesn't just get there by magic, see what I mean in the difference?

Good luck

PAMJ · 09-08-2007, 08:56 PM

quote:I know a family who had $50 deducted for a cobweb left under the patio

OMG, LOL!!!