Moving Into A Rental In Adelaide: Entry-Day Checks To Complete

# Moving Into A Rental In Adelaide: Entry-Day Checks To Complete

Before unloading, complete 6 entry-day checks: document the property, compare the condition report, test utilities and fixtures, inspect security and safety items, confirm furniture access, and record meter readings. Do this while rooms are empty, ideally before the movers bring in the first large item. Empty floors, walls and cupboards are easier to inspect, and time-stamped photos provide a clearer record of pre-existing marks than images taken after boxes obscure them.

Photograph The Empty Property First

Walk through the rental with your phone before unloading and take both wide room views and close-ups. In Adelaide CBD apartments, photograph lift interiors, corridors and the front door as well as the unit; these common access points can already have scuffs that should not be confused with moving damage. In older North Adelaide cottages and terraces, look closely at timber floors, high skirting boards, decorative plaster, sash windows and narrow passages where existing wear may be easy to miss.

Record each room systematically:

• Take 4 corner photos plus images of the floor and ceiling.
• Photograph chips, stains, cracked tiles, loose handles and damaged flyscreens at close range.
• Open wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, the oven and storage areas before photographing them.
• Capture outdoor paving, gates, fences and garden condition where these form part of the tenancy.
• Make a short video showing how doors, windows and blinds operate.

Keep the original files with their date information intact. Back them up in a clearly named folder rather than relying only on a message thread or social-media upload.

Compare Every Room With The Condition Report

Use the entry condition report as a working checklist rather than signing it from memory. Move from the front entrance through the home in one direction, checking every listed surface, fitting and appliance. If the report describes an item as clean or undamaged but you find grease, mould, a dent or a burn mark, note the difference specifically and attach a supporting image.

Adelaide rentals range from modern apartments near Rundle Mall to older masonry homes around North Adelaide and South Terrace. In established housing, hairline plaster cracking, worn floorboards and stiff windows may already exist; in apartments, common concerns include marked laminate, chipped benchtops and damaged balcony doors. Describe what you can actually see without diagnosing the cause—for example, “brown water mark on bedroom ceiling” is more useful than guessing that the roof leaks.

Check the submission instructions and deadline supplied with your tenancy documents. Retain a complete copy of everything you return, including attachments and any email confirmation.

Test Utilities, Fixtures And Safety Items

Confirm that the home is functional before it fills with boxes. Turn on taps, allow hot water to run, flush toilets and look under sinks for active drips. Test lights, power points with a small appliance, exhaust fans, cooktop elements, the oven, heating and cooling controls. Photograph meter readings where the electricity, gas or water meter is accessible, ensuring the meter identifier and reading appear in the same image.

Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate makes seasonal testing important. During hot, dry summers, check air-conditioning before the home heats up and inspect outdoor taps if they will be used for garden care. In cool, wet winters, look for moisture around windows, ceilings and external doors, particularly before placing wardrobes or cartons against walls. Never interfere with switchboards, gas fittings or smoke alarms beyond ordinary user checks; report anything damaged, missing or not operating.

If large appliances must be positioned, Large Appliance Removalists can handle the lifting, but tenants should confirm the connection point and available space before delivery.

Check Access Before The Movers Unload

Walk the full carrying route from the moving vehicle to each room. Measure the narrowest doorway, corridor turn, stair landing and lift opening, then compare those dimensions with bulky furniture. A sofa that fits through the front door may still fail at a tight internal turn, especially in older terraces around North Adelaide or compact apartments in the City of Adelaide.

In Adelaide CBD, access can also be affected by loading arrangements, building rules, lift bookings and busy pedestrian areas near Rundle Mall. South Terrace properties may have rear-lane or side access that is more practical than carrying furniture through the main entrance. Confirm the approved unloading point with the property manager or building manager rather than assuming a truck can remain at the door. Keep paths clear and protect vulnerable corners or floors with suitable coverings that will not create a slip hazard.

For units with lifts, stairs or restricted corridors, discuss the route with Apartment Removalists beforehand. Best Removalists Adelaide is based at 15 Davenport Tce, Wayville SA 5034 and operates Mon–Sun, 7am–9pm, which can help when building access is limited to a scheduled window.

Inspect Security, Keys And External Areas

Count every key, fob and remote supplied, then test each one in the relevant door, gate, garage or letterbox. Check that external doors latch properly and that accessible windows open, close and lock without excessive force. Record torn screens, loose latches, swollen doors and remotes with weak or missing batteries rather than discovering them after the property manager’s office has closed.

External checks matter too. Around Kent Town, Unley and the City of Adelaide, rentals may include courtyards, balconies, verandahs or shared access paths. Photograph existing oil marks, cracked paving, damaged gates and bins supplied with the property. If there is a balcony, inspect the surface and drainage opening visually, but do not attempt repairs or unsafe testing.

Plan unloading around the weather. Summer heat can affect movers, pets, plants and heat-sensitive belongings, while winter rain can quickly transfer grit and moisture onto timber or carpet. Use short carry routes, close doors between loads and keep absorbent materials ready near the entrance. If packing is still underway, the guide to what to pack first when moving house in Adelaide helps keep entry-day essentials separate.

Complete A Final Check Before Unpacking

Once unloading finishes, inspect the carrying route again while the day is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Check walls, door frames, lift areas and flooring from the entrance to the final room. If something occurred during the move, photograph it promptly and distinguish it from the pre-move images. Do not let cartons hide areas that still need to be documented on the condition report.

Keep an accessible first-night box containing medication, chargers, basic tools, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, bedding, kettle items and tenancy documents. Label boxes by destination room so they do not need to be dragged repeatedly across floors. For a practical sequence after the checks are complete, follow this room-by-room unpacking plan.

The best entry-day record is factual, organised and completed before normal household activity changes the property’s appearance. A careful first walkthrough takes less effort than reconstructing conditions later and gives tenants, property managers and movers a clear reference point if questions arise.