How to Conduct an Inspection When Your Tenant Moves Out

Your first impression when you pull up in front of the unit will give you a pretty good indication of how the rest of the property is going to look. If the flower beds and lawn are overgrown, you see broken blinds in the living room window, and there is a pile of garbage in the backyard, brace yourself before going through the front door. If it looks great from the get-go, then congratulations, the rest should be easy!

When doing the move-out walk-through, inspect the entire property from top to bottom, just like when your tenant moved in. Take pictures (or a video) of everything, including up-close pictures of things you need to remedy; all your visual evidence will come in handy later on if any disputes arise from the tenant regarding deductions from their security deposit.

Things like dusting the trim, wiping down the walls, cleaning out the oven, washing the outside of the appliances, cleaning beneath the refrigerator, and really getting into the corners while deep-cleaning are some common areas tenants miss, so while doing your move-out walk-through, just remember to be thorough so you don’t get stuck with footing the bill for your tenant’s grime.

What to Look for When Inspecting the Unit

Here are few other things to look for during the move-out inspection. Some of these can be charged to the tenant—if it is damage or an expense they caused—and others are just general upkeep.

Unapproved alterations to the unit, such as changes in paint color
Strange odors
Evidence of smoking or pets
Holes behind doors (from slamming the door open)
Holes in doors or walls (we will never understand this one)
Fleas and other bug evidence
Missing or burnt out light bulbs
Missing smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors
Missing blinds

Assess the Property for Condition & Needed Improvements

In addition to looking for damages caused by the tenants, now is also a good time to look at the property’s condition and assess what you can do to improve it for the long-haul. You probably will not be able to charge the tenants for the upgrades below, but the tenant turnover period is a great time to improve the condition of your property to keep it running in tip-top shape. Therefore, while doing your walk through, keep an eye out for the following.

Does the caulk around the bathtub, shower, or sink need to be redone?
Are there any signs of plumbing leaks, roof leaks, or drippy faucets?
Are there any signs of mold?
Do all the doors open and close easily?
Are the carpet and other flooring in good condition, or are they at the end of their life?
Is anything outdated that can be replaced to attract more rent and better tenants, such as overhead lights, countertops, fixtures, cabinets, or appliances?
Is the exterior of the building in good shape? How’s the paint, siding, and caulking?

[This article is an excerpt from Brandon Turner’s The Book on Managing Rental Properties.]

Any other areas you inspect during tenant move-outs?

Leave your comments below!

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.