It would be wise for a property owner to know that their tenant is keeping Taunton rental property clean. This is important since the value of your property is dependent on its overall condition. But the problem is, some tenants do not have the discipline for cleaning and property maintenance. If you don’t check up on your tenants, you may not know that cleanliness is an issue until it becomes a much bigger problem.
Regular property inspections are an important part of your property management process. But in the business of owning rental properties, the methods of property inspections are varied. Knowing why inspections are important, how to create and carry out an inspection schedule, and how to talk with your tenant about cleanliness are all things that a successful property owner needs to know.
Performing regular property inspections is important for the following reasons: Valuable insight is gathered by finding out if the tenant abides by the terms of the lease and it helps you catch developing problems early on. Tenants would naturally have different ideas about cleanliness. What some would regard as a dirty house or yard may not be a cause for concern for others. For some, the cleanliness of the home is none of the owner’s business. But this should definitely not be the case. A dirty house or yard could easily result in serious problems like structural damage, bad odors, pest infestations, and more. If you don’t catch these things early, you might end up with expensive repairs that are beyond the security deposit.
Property inspections must be done in an organized manner since this is an important part of property maintenance. As a property owner, you have several different kinds of inspections in your property management toolbox. The move-in inspection can help you establish a baseline for your property’s condition, helpful if you need to assess wear and tear or property damage later on. Then there are the drive-by inspections, which as the name suggests, allows you to drive by your rental property to check if there are visible issues with the property’s exterior.
But then the most important inspections are regular inspections for safety and cleanliness in the property’s interior. There is no rule that sets the number of inspections per year. Some property owners prefer inspecting their units once a year while some inspect their rental house every three or six months. Annual inspections are the most common and often the most convenient for both parties. It provides property owners with the correct assessment for the property’s condition as well as not creating undue hardship for the tenants.
Remember that inspecting the property too often can be perceived as a constant intrusion and thus frustrates the tenants. However, you might be inclined to increase your frequency of visits if there are cleanliness problems during your last inspection, and you would have to continue frequent inspections until you are sure that the tenant is keeping the property clean. The same is true if you discover a tenant with an unauthorized pet or unauthorized people. For every inspection, it is important to document everything you find in photos and writing.
Talking to tenants about cleanliness inspections may be tricky but this doesn’t need to be. One way to manage the tenant’s expectations about property inspections is to add an inspection schedule in the lease. Proper notice must be given before you enter the property and your tenant must be fully aware of the purpose of your visit. Establishing good communication with your tenant can make your property inspections much easier for everyone, and help you check the property as needed.
When you want a tenant to clean up the property properly, a request should be best done in writing. By giving clear requests and a detailed list of tasks, you and your tenant know what to expect. Just in case it will be needed, include photographs as this creates a strong paper trail for any future legal issues.
Regular property inspections, when done appropriately and routinely, create a system for the tenants to easily follow in keeping your rental property clean. When your tenants know that you are keeping a close watch on things, you provide a stronger incentive for them to keep your property tidy.
Need help coming up with a lease, or maybe you’d rather not deal with your tenants at all? Feel free to reach out to Real Property Management Success and talk to one of our property managers at 908-239-7579 or contact us online.
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