Your property is your greatest asset, and it’s important to take care of it. Property inspections help you maintain your property and ensure that things are running smoothly.
As a landlord, you want to ensure that everything is in good shape. A property inspection gives you a chance to make sure that your tenant meets the standards of your state’s landlord-tenant laws.
What to Expect in a Property Inspection
What you’re looking for depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re trying to make sure your tenant is meeting the basic standards of your area, a general inspection will do the trick.
On the other hand, if you have a major problem that needs to be taken care of right away, you may need to have a more in-depth inspection. Nevertheless, most property inspections follows the checklist below:
- Furnace filters
- Smoke batteries
- Fire extinguishers
- Bugs/pests
- Water leaks (sink, toilet, faucet, roof)
- Water damage (walls, ceiling, floor)
- Running toilets
- Window/door seals
- Any appliances
- Overall cleanliness/condition of the property
Many issues can be resolved during a property inspection. Letting your tenants know about the problems and setting up a time to come back and fix them is the best way to go about it. Otherwise, you may end up with a tenant who is less than satisfied.
Keep in mind that a property inspection is no guarantee that everything will be in good shape. If there’s an issue that is vital to your property and you want it fixed right away, you may want to arrange for emergency repairs to be done.
How Frequent Can Landlords Conduct a Property Inspection?
One of the big questions that comes up when it comes to property inspections is how often they can be done. In most areas, landlords can only do a property inspection once every six months during the fall and spring seasons. This is to ensure that their tenants are comfortable and able to live on the property.
In other states, landlords can also schedule quarterly lease inspections. Whatever the case, landlords are required to provide a 24-48 hour notice to tenants, especially for non-emergency reasons to inspect the unit.
The Number of Times Allowed for Property Inspections Depends on the Purpose of Entry
For emergency inspections, landlords are able to enter their tenant’s homes without their permission. However, the landlord’s entry must be for an emergency situation and there must be proof of this. For example, a maintenance person can enter the apartment to fix an electrical problem that is causing a fire.
The most important thing that you should consider is whether the reason for entry is more for a landlord inspection or for repair work. For non-emergency property inspections, the frequency highly depends on the landlord and tenant’s terms of the agreement.
The Bottom Line: The Importance of Property Inspections
Property inspections help landlords protect their investments and ensure that their tenants are comfortable in their homes. It’s a win-win for both parties.
Just keep in mind that you can’t enter your tenant’s apartment whenever you feel like it. You’re required to give 24 to 48 hours of notice. So long as you keep your tenants in the loop, you’ll be able to have a good working relationship with them.
How Can We Help You?
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