As a property owner, you want to know that your tenant is keeping your San Tan Valley rental property clean. All the same, the value of your property depends, in part, on the overall condition. Undeniably, some tenants may not be keeping up with their cleaning and property maintenance. All the more, if you never check up on them, you may not even know that the lack of cleanliness is turning into a problem until it truly becomes a much bigger problem.
Regular property inspections are an important part of your overall property management process. But like other aspects of owning rental properties, some approaches to property inspections are more appropriate than others. 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 components that an accomplished and successful property owner needs to understand well.
Accomplishing regular property inspections are important for quite a lot of reasons. It can provide valuable insight into how well your tenant is upholding the terms of the lease and help you catch developing problems early on. Many tenants may have different ideas about what cleanliness is or may not see the dirty house or yard as a reason to be worried. They may even feel that the cleanliness of the home is none of your business. Though nothing can probably be more false. A dirty house or yard can quickly result in more serious problems, including structural damage, bad odors, pest infestations, and more. Provided these disturbances are dealt with promptly, you could find yourself slapped with expensive repairs beyond what the security deposit will cover.
Given the fact that property inspections are important, it’s important to have an organized approach to getting them done. As a property owner, you have quite a lot of 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 drive-by inspections, which will allow you to drive by your rental property and check for visible issues with the property’s exterior.
The most important inspections, however, are regular inspections for safety and cleanliness in a property’s interior. There isn’t an agreed upon and fixed number you have to abide by each year. Some property owners prefer to inspect the property once a year, while others may plan to check the rental house every three or six months. Annual inspections are the most commonly accepted owing to the fact that they permit property owners to get a clear sense of the property’s condition without generating any difficulty for their tenants.
It’s critical not to inspect the property too often, because your constant intrusions may vex your tenant. But still, if you have uncovered cleanliness problems in your previous inspections, more frequent visits may be necessary until you are really clear that your tenant is keeping the property clean. The same holds true if you discover your tenant has an unauthorized pet or that unauthorized people are being kept in the house. Whichever you determine in the course of your inspection, you must document each visit carefully in photos and writing.
Talking to tenants about cleanliness inspections can become considerably problematic, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. One of the most appropriate techniques to manage your tenant’s expectations about property inspections is to include an inspection schedule in the lease. It’s moreover vital to give proper notice before entering the property and ensure that your tenant knows the purpose of your visit. Starting and establishing good communication with your tenant can make your property inspections much easier for everyone, and help you check the property as required.
If you do need to really ask your tenant to clean up the property, it’s best to do so in writing. By giving clear requests and a detailed list of tasks for your tenant, you leave no doubt what you ask from them. You can, in like manner, include the photographs you take to be even more persuasive and to create a strong paper trail, should it be unavoidable.
When used routinely and appropriately, regular property inspections can help you make sure that your tenants are keeping your rental property clean. And, for sure, when your tenants figure out you will be on top of things, you extend a stronger incentive to your tenant to keep the 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 East Valley and talk to one of our property managers at 480-658-0869 or contact us online.
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