{"id":362,"date":"2020-07-17T09:11:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T09:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bicoltraveller.com\/?p=362"},"modified":"2024-08-19T15:14:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T22:14:48","slug":"conducting-inspections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upliftpm.com\/conducting-inspections\/","title":{"rendered":"Conducting Inspections"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How to Conduct Move-In and Move-Out Inspections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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When a tenant is moving in or out, inspections can be a tricky process. If a tenant\u2019s move-in isn\u2019t documented well, applying charges after they move out might become more of an argument. Similarly, if the move-out isn\u2019t detailed enough, tenants might fight you about how clean they left it. Even if you feel like your tenant is the greatest in the world, it\u2019s always important to document the condition of your rental property before they move in and after they leave. As a leading property manager in San Diego, we have taken over management from many other property management companies. Often we are surprised to find out that no inspections were recorded and if they were, only a handful of photos were taken and the notes were lacking. The worst part about this is when the owner or tenants get charged for something that they weren\u2019t responsible for. Here are some tips to make sure you are conducting a good inspection that will protect you, your property, and tenant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Don\u2019t Leave the Inspection Up to the Tenant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many property managers will give tenants an inspection sheet and leave the inspection and documentation up to them. However, if you want to be able to hold tenants accountable for any future damages, you will need to inspect the property yourself. This will ensure you have all the information needed to assess damages and pass on future charges. Tenants often don\u2019t do inspections at all and then will complain later when they get charged. By doing a thorough and detailed inspection, you will eliminate most of the disagreements and potential back and forth between you and your tenants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Take as Many Pictures as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be shy of taking hundreds of pictures. Remind the tenants that taking this many photos can protect both the owner and<\/em> the tenants. Digital cameras or smartphones can store hundreds of photos easily, so you shouldn\u2019t need to worry about the amount. Make sure you are standing back and taking general pictures of each area, but then get up close when it matters. If you have a chipped tile in the tub, take a general shot of the tub and then an up close picture of that single tile to document the condition. This way it\u2019ll be easy for you to know where that chipped tile is located. By taking many photos, you will also be protecting yourself from future issues. You never know when you\u2019ll need a photo of that specific ceiling fan or that wall in the living room. You should be at least taking 100 photos per inspection - we often take 150-200 each time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Date and Timestamp Your Photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Along with taking many photos of your unit, make sure you download a free date and timestamp photo app onto your phone. You can also set some point and shoot cameras to display the date and time as well. This really will help in the long run so you will never have a question about when the photos were taken. If you\u2019re ever taken to small claims court or need to evict a tenant, judges and attorneys really appreciate detailed photos with dates and times printed on them. This will give you credibility when you need it. Here is the one we use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n