As a Carlsbad landlord, you're well aware that you have a lot of responsibilities that come with the job. Chief among them is the obligation to conduct regular property inspections. Even with the best tenants, this is an essential part of the expectation setting process with respect to the condition of the property. There are some good rules of thumb to follow regarding when to conduct property inspections and how to go about them: read on for some helpful tips!
What is a Property Inspection?
A property inspection is a process where the property manager or landlord physically inspects the interior and exterior of the property, generally with the tenant present, to make a judgment on that property's condition. It's recommended to have the tenant present during an inspection so that they're in-the-know on any possible concerns that the check might turn up. Inspections can be an opportunity for collaboration and help you make clear to your tenants how you expect your property to return to you.
Why Should You Do Them?
Property inspections ultimately help you keep up on the condition of your property. Since you aren't living there, you need to put the work in to check up on your Carlsbad property every so often to make sure it's in good condition. An inspection can be a chance for you to catch any needed repairs before a tenant moves in. Your tenants benefit from occupying the property in its best condition, and this serves you by preemptively removing disputes. At a minimum, you should perform inspections at least twice during a property's life cycle with any given tenant; before tenants move in, and after they move out.
Move-In Inspections
Move-in inspections are vital to establishing a property baseline. These should ideally be conducted with a tenant shortly prior to move-in (and before they've got the keys). This process allows you and your tenants to have a shared understanding of the property's condition and arrive at a mutual understanding of any preexisting issues. Such measures also protect your tenants (and their security deposit) by ensuring that you are fully aware of where things stand before your tenants take responsibility for the Carlsbad property. Likewise, it protects you by ensuring that your tenants have an understanding of what condition you expect the property to be in on move-out day.
It's important that this inspection occurs before you hand over the keys: performing this inspection as a part of that meeting is a common practice. If your tenants ask, or your schedule demands the review be complete before you turn over the property, avoid allowing access to the property prior to the move-in date. There's no need to expose yourself to potential liability issues that you could avoid.
Move-Out Inspections
Move-out inspections are an opportunity for you to get a hands-on look at the condition of the property as your tenant will be leaving it. Ideally, this is something that you can schedule on the day your renters move out. Schedule this inspection too early, and you run the risk of your tenants damaging the property during the move-out process. Schedule this inspection too late, and you run the risk that your tenants can claim that any damage they caused occurred after they had moved out.
Remember that with this inspection you’re generally looking for damage that falls outside of what is considered normal wear and tear. Wear and tear is considered normal depreciation that results from a tenant’s appropriate use of the Carlsbad property over time: worn patches in carpet in high traffic areas, faded paint or flooring, or light scuffing on the hardwood fall within this category. Landlords are generally required to repair normal wear and tear, which is distinct from tenant-caused damage such as gouges, stains, tears, holes, or burns.
Work With a Carlsbad Property Manager
With everything that goes into unit turnover and getting tenants moved in and out, it can be hard to find the time to conduct thorough property inspections. Fortunately, the right Carlsbad property management company can help you through the chaos. Beyond performing inspections, a property manager can also provide a wide range of additional services that cover the whole life cycle of your property, such as listing and marketing properties, screening tenants, performing routine and emergency maintenance, and collecting rent and handling disputes.
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