An exit inspection in Queensland is measured against the entry condition report, not against how clean the place looks to you. That's the single thing most tenants get wrong. Below is the checklist we clean to on every Brisbane bond clean, in the order an agent walks the property.
Kitchen
- Oven: racks, trays, door glass inside and between the panes, and the seals
- Cooktop, knobs and the surround under the trivets
- Rangehood body plus the filters (degreased, not just wiped)
- All cupboards and drawers, inside, outside and on top
- Benchtops, splashback, sink and taps, including limescale on the spout
- Dishwasher seals, filter and spray arms
- Behind and beside the fridge cavity, including the floor
Bathrooms and laundry
- Shower screen glass, tracks and the silicone line at the base
- Tiles and grout, treated for soap scum and mould rather than surface wiped
- Toilet including the base, hinges and the cistern
- Vanity, mirror, cabinet interiors and the exhaust fan cover
- Laundry tub, taps and behind the washing machine space
Bedrooms, living areas and throughout
- Wardrobes, shelving and mirrored doors and tracks
- Skirting boards, door frames, doors and light switches
- Marks on walls spot-cleaned (full wall washing is a separate item)
- Ceiling fans, light fittings and air-conditioner filters and covers
- Windows internally, plus sills and tracks
- Floors vacuumed and mopped, edges and corners included
- Cobwebs removed inside and under eaves
Outside
- Balcony or patio swept and washed down
- Garage or carport swept out
- Lawn mowed and edged, garden beds weeded (if the lease requires it)
- Bins emptied and rinsed
The five items that cost tenants their bond
- Oven glass, specifically the film between the two panes
- Rangehood filters, which need degreasing not wiping
- Shower grout and silicone, where mould reappears if it's only bleached on the surface
- Window tracks and flyscreens, almost never done by tenants
- The yard, which is part of the property even though it isn't part of 'cleaning'
If you're cleaning it yourself, budget a full day for a two-bedroom unit and two days for a house. Most re-cleans we're called into are properties where someone ran out of time, not effort.
Carpets
Queensland leases commonly require professional carpet cleaning if pets were kept at the property, and many agents ask for a receipt. Check your lease agreement before you book, and keep the invoice, agents accept documentation far more readily than an assurance.
What to do at handover
Photograph every room after the clean, date-stamped. If a dispute arises later, photos taken at handover are the strongest evidence you have. We photograph every job we complete and send you the set for exactly this reason.
Frequently asked
Do I have to use a professional bond cleaner in Queensland?
No. Queensland law requires the property to be returned in the same condition as the entry condition report, fair wear and tear excepted. It doesn't require a professional. In practice, most tenants use one because the standard is higher than a normal clean and the time cost is significant.
How long does a bond clean take in Brisbane?
Roughly 4 to 6 hours for a one or two bedroom unit and a full day or more for a three to four bedroom house, depending on condition. Yard work is on top of that.
What if the agent isn't happy with the clean?
If your property manager raises an issue with anything we cleaned at the exit inspection, we return within 7 days and re-clean it at no charge.