Move In and Move Out Checklist? Procedures?

[Joey Gorombey]

Hi All,

I've been a landlord for about a year, and inherited tenants with the property. One tenant is moving out. I have a few questions for people that have conducted move outs with tenants before:

 In your own experience, what is the best way to conduct a tenant move out, particularly with a tenant that you never saw move in? 

Do you provide them a checkout form, or conduct a walkout inspection with them? 

What would be grounds for keeping a portion, or all of, the security deposit? Aside: I live in Missouri. 

What is your turnover procedure for tenants? Do you advertise only after the unit is professionally cleaned? Do you charge your previous tenant a fee for cleaning?

Thanks in advance!

Joey 

[Chris Davidson]

@Joey Gorombey if you inherited the tenant and didn't get to do the move in, and don't have anything for a pre move-in inspection your options are limited. If you have condition of when you purchased the property you can go from there. Any damages beside normal wear and tear can be deducted at cost. However for a cleaning fee it would be what the lease states.

I advertise when I have a reasonable timeline of when it will be ready. If you haven't walked  the unit in months and have no clue what condition it is in, it would be hard to make it move in ready in a week if it needed two weeks of work. I don't show units in middle of a turn unless they are rent ready because I don't want a tenant who is good with a mess, as they likely will leave it a mess.

Best of luck!