Condition Report Guide
A room-by-room companion for documenting a Victorian rental properly at the beginning of a tenancy.
Open guide →Interactive planner + complete guide
The Complete Move-In Guide.
Plan the practical side of starting somewhere new — from utilities, movers and cleaning to keys, rental condition reports, first-night essentials and the things worth checking before the boxes take over.
More than moving day
Set the new home up properly before everyday life takes over.
A good move-in plan is not just a packing list. There is a valuable window between getting access and becoming fully settled — particularly for documenting a rental, cleaning an empty property, checking supplied fixtures and making sure the essentials actually work.
✓ Adapts to your actual move-in date
✓ Separate renter and owner pathways
✓ Condition-report guidance for Victorian renters
✓ Contextual services, official resources and printable plan
Welcome back — your move-in plan and checklist progress were restored on this device.
Your plan
Your personalised move-in plan.
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Victorian renters
Your condition report deserves more than a quick signature.
Consumer Affairs Victoria says renters should return a signed condition report within 5 business days of moving in. Review the agent's report carefully, add anything missing, and keep your own dated photographic record — particularly of pre-existing damage.
Start before unpackingAn empty property makes floors, walls, cabinetry and existing marks much easier to inspect.
Go room by roomCompare the supplied report with what you can actually see rather than assuming every entry is complete.
Photograph context + detailTake wide room shots and closer photographs of existing marks, damage or deterioration.
Date and label recordsCAV recommends dating and labelling photos and attaching them to the condition report.
Record things needing repairA condition report that notes an item needing repair also provides written notice of the issue.
Keep your own copyRetain the signed report and your photographs somewhere accessible for the duration of the tenancy.
The complete reference
A smoother move starts before the furniture arrives.
Use the planner for your personalised priorities, then use this guide for the detail: preparation, access, property checks, condition reporting, cleaning, moving day and the first week in your new home.
Stage 1Before you get the keys
Get the logistics out of the way before move-in day.
Confirm access, organise transport and make sure the services you need at the new property are not left until the boxes are already on the truck.
Confirm possession / key collectionKnow when access begins, where keys are collected and whether building access needs separate arrangements.
Organise movers or transportConfirm truck access, parking, loading zones, lifts and any building booking requirements.Find an AFRA removalist ↗Budget truck hire ↗
Finish packing deliberatelyKeep medication, chargers, documents, toiletries, basic kitchen items and bedding in a clearly marked essentials group.Packing supplies at Bunnings ↗
Organise utilitiesMake sure essential services are ready for possession and compare energy offers if needed.Victorian Energy Compare ↗
Stage 2First access
Use the empty-property window before anything gets covered up.
Before boxes and furniture arrive, walk through slowly. This is the easiest time to understand the property's actual condition, check access and identify anything that needs attention.
Check every key and access deviceFront and rear doors, mailbox, garage, storage areas, fobs and remotes.
Locate the practical essentialsFind the switchboard, water shut-off, meters and any property-specific controls or manuals.
Check supplied fixtures and appliancesWhere appropriate, identify obvious issues before they disappear into the chaos of unpacking.
Photograph the empty propertyThis creates a useful starting record before furniture, boxes and everyday wear are introduced.
Stage 3Rental condition report
Renters: document the starting condition carefully.
In Victoria, renters should return the signed condition report within 5 business days of moving in. Do not simply sign the supplied version without checking it. Add anything missing and retain your own dated photographs.
Compare every roomCheck walls, floors, windows, doors, cabinetry, fixtures, appliances and storage areas against the report.CAV condition report guidance ↗
Record pre-existing issuesNote marks, chips, stains, deterioration, damage or items needing repair rather than relying only on photographs.
Take labelled photographsUse both wide shots for context and detail images where something needs to be clearly recorded.
Check minimum standardsVictorian rental properties are subject to minimum standards covering areas including locks, heating, kitchen, bathroom, ventilation, windows and more.Rental minimum standards ↗
Stage 4Clean before unpacking
If the property needs cleaning, now is the easiest time to do it properly.
An empty property gives access to internal cabinetry, wardrobes, floors, skirting boards, windows and other areas that become harder to reach once furniture and belongings arrive.
Prioritise hygiene areasKitchen surfaces and cabinetry, bathrooms, toilets and other high-touch areas are natural priorities before settling in.
Use the empty cabinetry windowKitchen cupboards, drawers and wardrobes are much easier to clean before unpacking.
Steam carpet before furnitureIf carpet needs attention, cleaning it before heavy furniture arrives avoids working around occupied rooms.
Separate cleaning from property conditionCleaning can improve removable residue; it cannot repair damaged surfaces, deterioration or maintenance issues.
Stage 5Moving day
Make the first few hours functional, not perfect.
Your goal on moving day is to get belongings into the right zones, protect the property and make the first night workable. Perfect organisation can come later.
Keep essentials with youMedication, important documents, chargers, toiletries, pet items and first-night basics should not disappear into the truck.
Direct boxes to roomsClear labels reduce double-handling and keep hallways and living spaces safer.
Protect floors and cornersBe mindful of wet weather, trolleys, furniture legs and high-traffic entry points.
Build the first-night zone firstBeds, bathroom basics, drinking water, simple food and phone charging matter more than decorative unpacking.
Stage 6First 24–48 hours
Check the home while your first impressions are still fresh.
As you begin using the property normally, you may notice things that were not obvious during the first walkthrough. Record and communicate important issues promptly rather than assuming you will remember later.
Check smoke alarms appropriatelyVictorian renters should report a smoke alarm that is faulty or not working and must not deactivate or interfere with it.CAV smoke alarm guidance ↗
Check security and accessMake sure doors, windows and supplied access devices work as expected. Renters should use official guidance before changing locks.Locks & security guidance ↗
Record emerging issuesLeaks, appliance faults, drainage problems or other concerns are easier to explain when documented promptly.
Finish the condition reportFor renters, do not let unpacking push the 5-business-day condition-report window out of mind.
Stage 7First week
Turn the property from “moved into” into home.
Once the immediate move is under control, finish the administrative jobs and small practical tasks that make everyday life easier.
Finish address changesBanking, licences, insurance, employers, schools, healthcare, subscriptions and regular deliveries.Australia Post mail redirection ↗
Understand bins and collectionCheck your local council's bin days, hard-waste arrangements and recycling information.
Sort spare-key needsVictorian renters should check the rules around keys and security devices before arranging changes or extras.
Keep your property records togetherRental documents, condition report, settlement information, cleaning records, manuals and important property correspondence.
The empty-property advantage
There may never be a better time to clean the home.
Before furniture, food, clothing and everyday belongings arrive, cleaners can access areas that quickly become inconvenient once the property is occupied. That makes the gap between key collection and move-in particularly valuable.
Kitchen: empty cupboards, drawers, shelves and preparation areas can be cleaned before food and cookware are unpacked.
Bathrooms: sanitisation can happen before toiletries, towels and personal items fill the room.
Floors & carpet: cleaning before furniture avoids unnecessary moving and obstruction.
Victorian rental information
Use official guidance where rights and obligations matter.
The practical advice on this page is designed to make moving easier. Victorian renters should use Consumer Affairs Victoria for current formal information about condition reports, minimum standards, safety, locks and repairs.
Condition reports — Consumer Affairs VictoriaCompleting, amending, photographing and returning the condition report.
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Before moving into a rental — Consumer Affairs VictoriaCurrent renter information and minimum-standard checks before moving in.
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Rental minimum standards — Consumer Affairs VictoriaCurrent Victorian minimum standards and renter checklist.
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Locks and security — Consumer Affairs VictoriaKeys, access devices, locks and security requirements for Victorian rentals.
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Want to walk into a home that's already been properly cleaned?
ExitMaid's Move-In Cleaning is designed for the empty-property window before furniture and belongings arrive, with detailed attention to the areas that are hardest to access once you've settled in.
