Performing a rental property inspection is the best way to maintain your residential property. Maintaining a rental property requires regular check up on the property and repairing damages before they get worse.
A property manager or the landlord performs a rental property inspection. Knowing what a rental property inspection is and how to perform a rental property inspection is necessary to secure your property’s longevity.
What Is a Property Inspection?
A rental property inspection is a periodical reviewing of a property’s interior and exterior condition by a property manager or the landlord. The check is usually performed in the tenant’s presence to inform them of any concerns that arise.
A move-in rental property inspection lets you examine the property with your tenant before they move in. Primarily, the objective of conducting a property inspection, whether it’s a move-in, move-out, routine, or drive-by inspection, ensures the property’s features are in good working condition.
Why Is Rental Property Inspection Important?
There are many reasons to perform a rental property inspection- it gives you an opportunity to increase your property’s value, access tenants’ behavior, spot illegal activities, or bridge in an agreement contract.
Below are some reasons why performing a rental property inspection is essential.
To Prevent Problem in the Future
Performing regular inspections on your rental property help you in dictating emerging problems before they get serious. A small leak can grow to result in water damage, mold growth, property flooding, or busted pipes during the rainy season.
When you go for an inspection, look for minor damages like broken windows, unhinged doors, or torn baseboards that your tenant can repair and damages like irregular garbage collection, clogged outside drains, or a leaking roof that you are to improve.
To Ensure Compliance From Your Tenants
As a landlord, you need to have specific rules or expectations that your tenants are to follow or meet. After stating the contract rules, you should inform them that you’ll inspect the property regularly or hire an inspection manager to do the inspection.
Telling your tenants about the property inspection and inspecting the property will give them a reason to keep the property in good shape.
To Meet Your Tenants’ Needs
The agreement between a landlord and his tenant is an agreement involving two people. You must ensure that you’re meeting up to your part of the deal by confirming the rental property is safe, clean, and conducive for your tenant.
Landlord-Tenant Relationship
Another reason for performing an inspection on your rental property is important is that it helps you build a relationship with your tenants. You can get to know your tenant a little more, gain their trust, and inquire about their general well-being.
Routine rental property inspection also creates an opportunity for tenants to tell the landlord what they don’t like about the house or what needs to be improved. If a tenant isn’t taking proper care of the property, remain professional yet kind in setting them straight.
What to Look for in a Rental Property Inspection
Below is the property inspection checklist.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Your rental property is expected to have at least one functional smoke detector by law. However, the apartment can have more than one smoke detector. Test the smoke detectors and ensure they’re functioning correctly.
Also, examine the carbon monoxide detectors, especially in apartments that have a fireplace.
Electricity
The landlord or property manager should examine the apartment electricity. Check for faulty outlets; are the outlets working? Are they lose? Do the outlets spark? Ensure all outlets are safe and working correctly.
Also, review the switches for any dimming features. Check if the light flickers when something is plugged in.
Floor and Walls
During a rental property inspection, check for chips, cracks, or stains in the bedrooms, kitchen, living room, and dining room walls. Puffiness or colors in the paint indicates water damage.
Water damages should be addressed quickly because extensive water damage can compromise the wall’s structural integrity.
Climate Control
Another vital thing to inspect during a rental property inspection is the water boiler, HVAC unit, or any installed climate control system. Turn on the structure and examine the cooling and heating setting.
Check for the air filter to know the condition of the primary vent. It is recommended that you change HVAC filters every three months, although the air filters may be changed more frequently for houses with tenants with allergies or pets.
Exterior Doors and Windows
It is vital to inspect the doors, windows, and walkways. Are there any gaps around the door edges? If they’re gaps, air will escape from the apartment, making the property’s heating and cooling system function strenuously, resulting in a high utility bill.
When inspecting the windows, check for damaged, cracked, or broken window panes. Also, check for any holes on the window screen. Make sure the door locks are securely installed and functioning correctly.
Rental Property Inspection Laws
When inspecting a rental property, they’re laws protecting the tenant’s legal rights. These inspection laws define how to perform a rental property inspection.
Give Prior Notice
Ensure you know and follow the laws governing the number of times notice should be sent before the inspection and encourage your tenants to be present during the inspection.
After giving notice, an inspection can only occur during reasonable hours, usually between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in most states.
Don’t Engage in Confrontations
If a tenant is neglecting the property or causing damages, don’t take it personally. Instead, remain calm and professional in addressing the issue and also listen to the tenant’s complaints.
Respect Tenant Privacy and Maintain Professionalism
Give proper notice, state the reason for the inspection, and ensure you respect your tenants’ privacy. Also, document every review in the lease contract.
Final Words
The principal aim of performing rental property inspection is to protect your assets and build a professional relationship with your tenants. It is essential to know and keep the laws guiding property inspection.
