As a landlord, you are probably already aware of the significance of inspecting your Dayton investment property on a frequent basis. Regular monitoring helps you avoid huge expenses down the line. It also aids in addressing maintenance issues proactively, so you can provide your tenants with a safe and well-maintained house.
Inspections are an important part of property management, even if you have excellent tenants. Routine surveys help you assess any faults or damages to your rental, giving you an idea of the potential problems that may crop up later. In addition, it also shows the tenant that you expect your house to be cared for; if you neglect taking care of your investment, so will they!
How Often Should You Conduct a Rental Inspection?
Usually, inspections are performed when a new tenant is ready to occupy the space, and after he/she vacates. If you are planning to inspect the house while tenants are staying there, you must provide them with an advance notice before carrying out an inspection. According to the Ohio landlord-tenant rights, a minimum notice of 24 hours is required for the landlord to enter and check the property.
Routine assessments, especially every three months as the seasons change, will also help you in avoiding major damages.
How to Conduct a Quality Rental Inspection?
- Prepare an inspection checklist
The easiest way to ensure whether you’re conducting an inspection correctly is by preparing a checklist. This should cover all the important areas of an evaluation, like checking the foundation for mold or pest infestation, checking the roof and walls for damages, checking the locks, the floors, window panes, HVAC systems, and the plumbing.
A checklist helps you track things more effectively, and you can also add or remove the items as and when you require.
- Conduct a move-in inspection
Check your investment rental thoroughly before the tenant moves in. Make a note of the state of things at that time. This gives you a baseline to judge whether the tenant is taking care of your property and easily identify the damage caused by the tenant, or during their tenancy. Ideally, the move-in inspection must be carried out in the presence of both the tenant and the landlord.
- Conduct regular inspections during the tenants’ stay
Evaluating the asset while your tenants are occupying the unit helps you in understanding the state of the property in their occupancy – whether it is well-maintained, or has deteriorated. Consequently, you can arrange for repairs, or ask the tenant to pay for the damage caused, as the case may be. This also lets you know whether the tenants are abiding by the terms and conditions of the lease.
- Conduct a move-out inspection
An evaluation before the tenant moves out will help you in determining the damage that your property underwent during their stay. Carry a report of the move-in inspection and compare the details with the current state of the property; this will enable you to get a clear picture and conduct this assessment more accurately.
With the help of these steps, you can conduct a quality rental assessment. If you are planning to purchase or already own an investment property in Dayton, connect with us at ManCo Property Services. We can help you with regular rental inspections and maintenance management, to ensure that your asset is always renter-ready.
