Rental inspections are an important part of managing your Contra Costa property. The critical inspections occur before the tenant moves in and after the tenant moves out. Those inspections give you the opportunity to document the condition of your home and hold the tenant accountable for any damages.
In addition to those two expenses, make sure you are also inspecting your home at least once a year, while your tenant is occupying the property. Today, we’re discussing the three things you want to look for during these visits.
Inspect the Interior of the Property
First, you’ll want to take a close look at the inside of your property. Examine its systems and how they are functioning. You’ll want to start with safety issues such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, your water heater, and your gas appliances. Make sure all of those things are safe and functional for your tenants. Check the lighting and make sure the doors and windows lock properly. Then, look for leaks. You always want to check for water issues. Take a look at your faucets. Maybe there’s a slow drip under a sink that no one has noticed. Get any leaks fixed right away so you don’t have to worry about water damage to the wood. When you have water intrusion that’s left unfixed, you’ll cause further problems to your home.
Inspect the Exterior of the Property
Next, you’ll want to go outside of the property and look for any maintenance issues that need attention out there. Look for things like clogged gutters or debris and branches gathering on the roof. You want to make sure the landscaping is clean and well-maintained. Check the shrubbery, the condition of any stairs, and the exterior lighting. Make sure all branches are trimmed back from the house. Take a look at your roof, and estimate its age. You’ll need to plan for larger long-term repairs and replacements, such as your roof. Start putting money aside for those big ticket items down the road.
Check for Lease Violations
Finally, take a look at your tenants and get an idea about how they are caring for your property. They don’t have to be best housekeepers; not everyone has the same standards of cleanliness. However, you want to make sure they aren’t allowing junk and trash to pile up. You don’t want to see garbage bags in the kitchen or bags of recyclables gathering cobwebs on the back patio. Make sure your tenants remove trash regularly so they aren’t creating a nuisance. There might be kids in the property, so things can get messy and noisy. That’s okay. Just make sure your tenants are using the property as their lease agreement intended. If you notice any lease violations, be sure to address them immediately. If you see a dog running around and you didn’t approve a pet, you’ll need to take action.
These are just a few of the things we look for when we’re doing rental inspections. If you have any questions about these rental inspections or you need help managing your Contra Costa property, please contact us at Stokley Properties.