What is on your routine maintenance checklist?
If you don’t have one, you could be putting your
California City rental property at risk.
Inspecting your rental property is important if you want to protect and preserve its condition and value. Having a set routine for when and how you inspect your home is a good way to stay organized, consistent, and thorough. With a checklist, you can be sure everything has been looked at. Either you’ll have the peace of mind that it works well or you’ll make a note that something needs attention.
We recommend you use the same inspection checklist every time you go to your property. It creates a seamless way to document the condition of your rental home.
Move-In Inspection Checklist for California City Landlords
The move-in inspection will allow you to set the expectation with your tenants for how you want the home to be maintained. When you hand over a property that’s clean, functional, and in excellent condition, you can let them know that you expect it to be returned in the same general shape.
You want to make sure everything in the home is working and clean.
The checklist should include:
Changing air filters and light bulbs.- Testing appliances and faucets.
- Turning on air conditioning and heat.
- Flushing toilets.
- Testing outlets.
You want to completely and accurately document the condition of your property before your tenants move in. Once your tenants have received the keys and signed the lease, give them an opportunity to do a move-in inspection of their own. Share the checklist, and allow them to add any notes or concerns to your report, and then make sure all parties sign off. This puts you all on the same page in terms of how the property looks when a tenant takes possession.
California City Move-Out Inspection Checklists
When you receive written notice that your tenant is planning to move out, remind them of what they’ll need to do before moving out. This might mean having the property cleaned professionally or the carpets steam-cleaned. Refer to the lease agreement and explain how and when they should return the keys.
In California, you’re required to invite your tenants to attend a pre-move out inspection, which will allow you to point out anything that may lead to a
deduction from their security deposit.
After your tenant has moved out, you’ll conduct another inspection to compare the condition of the property at that time to the condition the home was in before the tenants moved into it. Remember that normal wear and tear is to be expected, and you cannot hold the tenants accountable for it. Use the same checklist you moved during the move-in inspection.
Annual Maintenance Walk-Through Inspection Checklist
In addition to the move-in and move-out inspections, having a set routine where you inspect the home annually while the tenants are in place is a good way to manage your relationship and protect your property. Let your tenants know at the beginning of the lease period that you’ll conduct such an inspection, and give them plenty of notice before you show up.
California privacy laws are pretty strict, and you can’t show up at the property for no reason. A maintenance walk-through, however, will give you the opportunity to look for any
deferred or unreported maintenance. You can also make sure your tenant is taking good care of the home.
Checklist items at this time will include:
Checking under sinks and behind toilets for drips or leaks.- Making sure filters are being changed regularly.
- Looking for health, safety, or habitability concerns.
- Ensuring there are not obvious lease violations.
Take pictures during this inspection as well, and prepare a complete report so the condition of your property is well-documented.
