Every landlord or property management company will conduct an inspection before a lease begins and after a tenant moves out. You should do an annual apartment inspection as well. This will save you time and money because you won’t be called for minor maintenance issues as frequently, and you won’t have to pay higher prices for advanced repairs.
We believe annual apartment inspections are essential to a successful investment experience, and today we’re talking about why they’re so important to you and your rental property.
Annual Apartment Inspections Save Money with Preventative Maintenance
There may be some unreported maintenance that’s needed at your apartment. Tenants could easily miss some of the small and minor issues that you’ll look for intentionally. They might also feel like they want to spare you from complaints and maintenance requests for things that don’t seem like a big deal. That might be a sign of a considerate tenant, but it’s much better for you financially to take care of problems while they’re small and minor rather than large and complex.
Annual apartment inspections may reveal leaks. A small leak under the sink can be a simple fix costing less than $200 if you handle it right away. However, if that leak is left for two or three years, the moisture will cause dreadful damage. By the time you realize what has happened, you’ll find yourself with an expensive black mold problem.
While conducting your annual inspection, check all the sinks. Look for leaks and other small problems and take care of them right away. Encourage your tenants to make those maintenance requests, no matter how inconsequential they might seem to be.
Annual Apartment Inspections Prevent Hidden Problems
Another reason to do annual apartment inspections is that you can discover things that you might not have known otherwise. This is especially important when it comes to enforcing the terms of your lease. It’s common for landlords to find an undocumented pet during an inspection. Or, maybe you will notice that your tenant is becoming a hoarder and there are safety and cleanliness issues to address. You can serve notices to try to cure these types of things. A professional Kelowna property management company can help you enforce your lease and manage your inspections.
Be Mindful of Tenant Rights and Requirements
You shouldn’t just stop by at the apartment and ask your tenant if you can go in and look around. Make sure your annual inspection is scheduled and that your tenants receive enough notice. Your lease agreement should mention your annual inspection so it’s not a surprise when you get in touch to schedule it.
Annual apartment inspections protect your property and save you money. If you need some help or you’d like to take advantage of the experience and resources of a property management company, please contact us at Vantage West Property Management. We are an experienced property management company, and we’d be happy to assist you.