Move-out inspection when tenant vacates before lease ends

[Chris Kim]

My tenant notified me that he's moving to another state on 9/2018.  I'm in Virginia and the lease ends  3/31/2019.  He's been a good tenant, pays on time for several years, etc.

My CL lease requires and my tenant reaffirmed that he would continue to pay rent until a new tenant is found at which point my broker would send tenant a lease amendment with early termination terms.  He will be moving out in the middle of September. 

Any thoughts on when to conduct the move-out inspection? Tenant will be vacating the property but his lease will not end until a new tenant is found.  

Conducting a move-out inspection triggers a series of time sensitive events which ultimately results in the return of the security deposit.

My thought was to refer my tenant to the Move-Out instructions outlined in the lease (switching utilities, cleaning, having gutter cleaned, etc).  This way he can get the requirements done while he's still in the state.  

However, I would wait until after I have a new tenant and my current tenant's lease is amended to conduct the Move-Out Inspection.  

Would love any insight veterans can offer for this and anticipated issues related to when a tenant vacates the property prior to the end of the lease term.