Rental inspections can help Melbourne landlords identify potential maintenance issues and make sure their tenants are following the terms of their lease. When you’re planning and conducting a rental inspection at your property, make sure you’re thorough and detailed. Visit every single room, open every single door, and take a look at every single floor, ceiling, and wall.
We also recommend using a checklist so you can make notes throughout the inspection. Take a lot of pictures, too.
The things you look for during the inspection will depend on your reasons for the inspection. When you’re doing a move-in inspection, you’re documenting the condition of the home and ensuring all the safety and habitability requirements have been met. During the move-out inspection, you’re making decisions about the security deposit. .
A few important items belong on every rental inspection checklist.
Checking Faucets, Sinks, and Tubs
Turn on every faucet and look under every sink for potential leaks. Water can do damage to a property faster than any other problem. Take care of any leaks you find immediately, no matter how minor they seem. A simple dripping faucet can turn into a major leak under the sink that causes rot and mold.
Outside, look for areas where water might be getting inside the house. Inspect your irrigation or sprinkler systems.
Look for Potential Repairs and Replacements
The rental inspections you conduct before a tenant moves in are meant to ensure the property is ready for occupancy. Everything must be functioning the way it should. Check each electrical outlet, turn on all the lights, and run the appliances. Make sure the doors and windows are locking and check light bulbs, air filters, and smoke detectors. Take a close look at the plumbing and the air conditioning. HVAC systems work overtime in Florida, and you’ll want to make sure your cooling system is in good condition.
Inspect for Cleanliness and Upkeep
Everyone has different standards of cleanliness. You can’t expect your tenant to keep a home as clean as you might, yourself. But, you can expect that things are in order and there are no safety issues or pest issues due to dirt, food, and other messes.
When you’re doing a move-in inspection, you need to make sure everything is perfectly clean. Baseboards and ceiling fans should be free of dust, kitchens and bathrooms should sparkle, and the home should look and smell beautiful. When you’re doing a move-out inspection, you expect the same level of cleanliness after a tenant leaves. If the property clearly has not been cleaned, make notes and take pictures so you can withhold cleaning costs from the security deposit.
Look in hidden places. Check the condition of the walls behind doors. It’s possible there are dents in the drywall where the doorknob might have slammed against the wall. Check for scratches on the floor and tears in the window screens.
Inspections to Enforce Lease Agreements
During routine maintenance inspections, make sure your tenant is following the lease. This is a good time to look for unauthorized pets and to make sure there aren’t extra people who aren’t on the lease living in the home. Check for evidence of smoking or illegal activity.
Inspections are also a good time to talk to your tenants. You want to make sure expectations are being met, and you also want to make sure those residents are happy and have everything they need.
These are just a few of the things you should include on your rental property inspection checklist whenever you’re inside your Melbourne rental property. We can provide detailed inspections for a reasonable charge in order to ensure your property is well-maintained and in excellent condition.
For more information about inspections or anything pertaining to Melbourne property management, please
contact us
at RE/MAX Elite.
RE/MAX Elite has been providing world-class property management service to Eastern Florida since 2006. We serve all of Brevard County, including Melbourne, SunTree, Viera, Palm Bay, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indialantic, Titusville and Mims.
