Make Good Checklist: What Usually Needs to Be Removed or Reinstated
A practical checklist of what a commercial make good typically covers, from partitions to paint, so you can scope your job before getting quotes.
Before you get quotes, walk your own space against this checklist. It covers the items a make good clause most commonly asks a tenant to address. Your actual lease decides which of these apply, so use this as a starting scope, not a substitute for reading the clause itself.
Structure and layout
- Non-structural partitions and internal walls you installed.
- Suspended ceiling grid and tiles, if you added or altered them.
- Doors and door hardware you added.
Finishes
- Flooring: carpet, vinyl or tiles you installed over base building floor.
- Paint and wall finishes, repainted to a commercial standard.
- Skirting, cornices and joinery you added.
Services and fit-out
- Cabling, data points and IT infrastructure.
- Kitchenette and breakout area fixtures.
- Signage and branding, internal and external.
- Security and access control systems you installed.
- HVAC and services returned to base building configuration, if you altered them.
Final steps
- All rubbish and waste removed from the premises.
- Premises left clean and tidy to a commercial standard.
- Final photographs taken for your own records before handback.
Cat A vs Cat B fit-out and make good ยท Get quotes against this checklist
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to remove base building services like fire sprinklers?
No, base building services installed by the landlord are not your responsibility unless you altered them. Only items you added or modified are typically within your make good scope.
Should I take my own photos before handback?
Yes, always. Photograph the completed make good work before the final landlord inspection, so you have your own record if there is a later dispute over condition.
Ready to get started?
Tell us about your make good, defit or strip out and we will pass your details to a provider covering your area.
Sources: EA Lawyers, What are make good obligations in commercial and retail leases?