Property Walkthroughs.... Waste of time?

[Alex S.]

I want to bring up a question that may seem to be blasphemy to a lot of landlords.... Are rental property walkthroughs/inspections really worth it? The reason I ask is because I have been landlording for several years and do not make it a point to do walkthroughs. The logic is simple. As much as it pains me to admit it, once a tenant signs a lease and moves in, my hands are very much tied. What power do I really have to rectify a tenant who paints walls without my authorization, or even allows an unauthorized tenant to move in with them? I understand the argument that perhaps me checking in every couple months might give them the feeling that i am keeping an eye on things and therefore maybe they treat the house better. But in large, you don't really have the power to change anything through walkthroughs, so why do them? It is a much more effective use of my time to drive the things I can change versus those I can't. Can someone weigh in?