Planning quarterly rental property inspections: suggestions wanted

[Alinda Saffell]

I inherited a couple SF houses as rental properties with tenants, and I want to be more pro-active in managing them in 2024.  I neglected to start this practice after the retirement of my PM, and I regret it (minor plumbing problem has turned into bathroom remodel $$$ - poorer and wiser now I hope).

If you self manage, what suggestions do you have that work well to help keep track of the condition of major systems or minor malfunctions?  Any tips about how to effectively keep the lines of communication clear and open with tenants?  One of my tenants works ALL THE TIME so I might wind up talking to his elderly father more often than not.

Thanks in advance!!