Detecting roaches at the CHECK OUT inspection

[Ted Kawabata]

OK I don't see a post answering this questions, either on BP or on the web.  Help!

I'm checking out a tenant and he did an amazing job cleaning.  The place looks GREAT in every way.  But there is a big roach problem that I can't see.  I have 14 days (legal limit in Hawaii) to return any appropriate security deposit.  But it wouldn't matter if I waited longer... I'd have to come at NIGHT and flip the lights on to see if there are roaches walking about.

SUGGESTIONS?!  How can I detect a roach problem during the daytime at the actual check-out appointment?  Or ASAP within a few days after?

Our policy is to give a new tenant a clean place and expect it back clean.  If an outgoing tenant leaves a roach problem, we wanna call a pest control service ASAP and charge it to their security deposit.  Any advice for making this happen in a fair and timely manner?

It's happened more than once that I've refunded the deposit, advertised a vacant unit for a few weeks, finally placed a new tenant a 3-6 weeks later, and then discovered a legit roach problem.  Owner ends up eating the expense, when the former tenant should have paid the bill.  Would GREATLY appreciate any tips and tricks to minimize this occurrence!  Thank you BP!