5. Air the place out

First impressions count, and if the property manager’s first impression upon stepping through the front door is that there’s a funky smell, you can expect plenty more scrutiny.

“Air the house out a couple of days beforehand if you usually have everything locked up,” Willcox advises.

6. Ditch the junk

Old furniture, broken fridges and other unwanted items that typically get stashed down the side of the house on the front verandah are a huge no-no and need to be moved, Willcox says.