Property Inspections
Protect Your Investment and Your Tenants
Here are two good reasons for setting up a regular rental property inspection schedule:
1. Your rental property is likely one of your most valuable assets. It’s important to protect its value by maintaining and repairing its structures and systems throughout the time of your ownership.
2. Safety and livability are important to your tenants. They want to live in well-maintained property—and it’s a landlord’s obligation to supply the tenant with safe and well-functioning housing. Poorly maintained properties expose owners to liability issues and even litigation. You don’t want to be responsible for injuries on your property.
So it only makes sense to create a quarterly or semi-annual schedule for regular property inspections. This way, you’ll know what repairs are needed right away, and what you can put off until later.
Present the schedule to your tenants on lease signing day, so they can be prepared for your visit. Contact them at least a week ahead to confirm the day and time. Be as flexible as possible. Most of your tenants have busy work and personal lives, so be patient if finding a mutually-convenient time is difficult.
The inspection should cover structural overviews: electrical, heating and plumbing, plus the exterior safety of stairways, porches, railings, and sidewalks. Inside, look at smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, water heater, and all door and window locks.
Check overgrown shrubs near windows, and overhanging branches that could injure a tenant. Look for damages to the roof, gutters, and exterior paint or siding.
Ask your tenants if anything is causing problems or if they’ve seen any leaks or smelled any unusual odors. It’s far better to keep communication open and learn of any gripes or potential problems before they become major issues. Document damages with photos; you and the tenant should sign and date the inspection report.
Keep your rental property value as high as possible—and keep your good tenants—with regularly-scheduled property inspections, repairs, and maintenance.