Reasons to Conduct Property Inspections

Your property is an investment, and the more you take care of it, the more you can expect it to give you higher returns. Conducting regular inspections allows landlords to keep their property in tip-top shape and maintain – if not improve – its value. In today’s article, we explain why property inspections are important.

1# You can minimize and prevent any liabilities

Making sure that your property is in excellent condition guarantees there are no liabilities that could get you into trouble. These liabilities can be in the small and easily overlooked concerns: loose steps, broken windows or burned-out lights. If there is a child under the age of six years old, you also have to check on flaking paint. Prevent anything that might cause harm to anyone and that you can get sued for. You know it would be your responsibility and that it would go under your insurance.

#2 You can check on your tenants

They always say that “when the cat is away, the mice will play”. What we mean by that is that as a landlord, you won’t be on your property 24/7 to keep your residents in check. By conducting regular visits, you assure that your tenants stick to the rental agreement.

Of course, we do not recommend going in there every two and a half weeks. We also know that depending on the number of properties you own you may not always find the time to do the inspections yourself.  At Green Ocean Property Management, we do our regular inspections twice a year and use the inspection software called zInspector. It allows us to document in detail, room by room, the condition in which a property is at. It guarantees that everything is working okay. With this, we will know if the tenants are taking care of the property and if it will be good to offer them any renewals.

Also, it gives you a chance to see if the tenants have any complaints. Most of the time, tenants do not inform their landlords about any issues unless it becomes a major inconvenience. Worse, they do not see the urgency unless it has already caused a lot of damage. So, prevent future complaints or further need for repairs. Anything from changing light bulbs they perhaps can’t reach, testing any drains, or looking out for water leaks. By being proactive, you show your tenants that you care.

#3 You can secure documentation for future reference

Another major benefit of property inspections is that the state of your property in certain timeframes is well-documented. In case you find anything damaged or needing repair and your tenant says “well, you know, I didn’t cause this damage”, you have evidence. Your records will prove that the property was not in that manner previously – whether before or right at the beginning of their occupancy. You will have a supporting document to deduct from their security deposits or charge them later on to cover those damages.

In conclusion

As a proactive property management company, we give landlords three major reasons why property inspections are important. You see how your property is and minimize any liabilities that might exist. You also see how the tenants are taking care of the place and determine whether you offer them a renewal or not.

Later on, you can use those inspection reports as a comparison and proof to charge them for any damages.

Our commitment

If you or anyone else you know is looking for a proactive property manager that understands why property inspections are important to ensure your property is well-maintained and your residents are safe and happy, please think of Green Ocean Property Management: where you get more than a property manager, you get peace of mind.