Once your tenant’s rental period ends and they move out, you’ll need to perform a rental walkthrough. This is your time to check the property for wear and tear and required repairs and maintenance. To help you stay organized, it helps to create a list. This ensures you properly record the condition of the property so that you can justify not returning a portion or all of the tenant’s security deposit. If there are no damages or repairs, then you can return the deposit in full without worrying of something popping up later. Create your rental walk through checklist by starting with these things to check when a tenancy ends.
Pre-Inspection
Before you actually perform the walk through, you should provide a tenant with a list of tasks you expect them to do upon moving out. This should include things like removing all of their property and trash, cleaning, and returning the property back to the original condition. The tenant also needs to provide adequate notice and schedule a rental walk through.
Inspection Day
For inspection day, have a list that itemizes each room and the items that you should check. You will then work your way down the list as you move through each room. If there are multiple bedrooms, you should have a separate section for each one. The same applies for multiple bathrooms.
Room Elements
Once you have a complete list of the rooms in the rental house, divide each room into elements. For example, floors, walls, ceiling, doors, and windows. Include unseen elements, like electrical and plumbing. For certain rooms, check additional elements like the large appliances in the kitchen and laundry rooms. For each element in each room, leave a space for notes. This leaves you space for recording any damages and required repairs during the rental walkthrough.
Other Items
There are a few other items that you need to include on your checklist that are not about the physical property. Look around for personal items and garbage that the tenant may have left behind. Collect all of the keys and garage door openers back from the tenant. You also need to get the tenant’s forwarding address. You need this so that you can send them their security deposit.
Signatures
While you don’t have to have the tenant present during the inspection, it can be helpful. Invite the tenant to participate and schedule a time when you can both be available if they are interested. This allows you to walk through the property together and address any issues right away. If the tenant does decide to attend the inspection, have them sign your checklist form with notes. This records that they acknowledge the accuracy of your notes and the condition of the property.
Take a Visual Recording
Tenants want their security deposit back, so they may push back if you decide to retain a portion or all of the security deposit. While having the rental walk through report with notes is helpful, it only does so much. What is even more helpful is having a visual recording of the property’s condition. You can do this with either pictures or video. Should the tenant pursue legal action, you can easily provide pre and post rental images that clearly show the before and after conditions.
Create Your Inspection Checklist
Working with a property manager can make creating your inspection checklist easier. They can provide you with insight based on experience. They may also have additional checklist points that may be specific to your area. Our team of rental property managers has thorough inspection checklists that are used to ensure each property is maintained in top condition.
Reach out today and start working with our knowledgeable property managers.
