Keeping your Kona rental property well-maintained is important in preserving its condition and increasing its value. One of the ways to keep your investment in good shape is through regular inspections.
We recommend you inspect at least three times in the course of a lease period. You’ll want to do a move-in inspection and a move-out inspection (or a renewal inspection if your tenant decides to stay in place). You’ll also want to do a routine inspection while a tenant is living in the home so you can be sure there isn’t any deferred maintenance or lease violations to be concerned with.
Document Condition with Move-In Rental Property Inspections
The move-in inspection is especially important because it will document the condition of your property before you turn it over to your tenants. This inspection report will be used to determine whether any damage was done at the end of the tenancy, when your residents have moved out and you’re making decisions about the security deposit.
Be as detailed as possible when you’re conducting this inspection. Take pictures of everything, even the floors, the walls, and insides of appliances. Invite the new tenants to walk through the property and make their own notes on the inspection checklist. This way, everyone will agree in writing to its condition.
Move-Out Rental Property Inspections and Security Deposits
During the move-out inspection, you’ll be looking for damage that’s due to neglect, abuse, or misuse. You cannot charge the tenant’s deposit for normal wear and tear, but you can charge for damage that goes beyond regular wear. Compare the pictures and the notes you take to those you filed after the move-in process. If something doesn’t look right after a tenant leaves your property, you’ll have the evidence to demonstrate that.
The move-out inspection is more than just a routine walk through; you’re going to need to make notes and lists about what you’ll have to take care of before you can re-rent the home.
If your tenant is choosing to renew the lease, that’s great news. It means fewer turnover and vacancy costs for you. Schedule a renewal walk-through so you can make sure everything looks good and check for any necessary maintenance issues.
Routine Inspections During Occupancy
Schedule your inspection halfway through the lease period. You can take this opportunity to check for any unreported maintenance issues. You can also make sure your tenants are changing the filters, keeping the home clean, and taking care of the lawn or outdoor space.
Look for leaks under sink, and give the property a thorough check for anything that might need attention. Since you’re inside the house, you should also take the time to discuss any issues or concerns your tenant might be having. Look for lease violations, too. If you did not approve any pets but you see a huge tub of cat litter in the bathroom, you might want to address it with your tenants.
The most important reason to conduct routine rental property inspections is to protect your investment. When you don’t have time to get inside and inspect your property, contact a
professional Kona property management company. We can help, so
give us a call at Hawaiian Dream Properties.
