First time rental inspection

[Brad Sparks]

How do you handle rental inspections?  I'm starting to get weekly call about this and that so I want to see for myself what's going on there. 

 How much notice should I give?

Can I take pictures of the house? 

I'm having her sign a new lease since the previous owner's lease is two years old. How should I handle that?

This is my first rental and I want to be as professional as possible.

[Mitch Messer]

Hi @Brad Sparks and welcome to the wonderful world of landlording!

First of all, we call them "Safety Inspections," because who can object to a routine inspection to ensure their safety!

Second, our tenants sign a lease addendum that specifies, among other things:

1) I/WE UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT IT IS OUR CHOSEN RESPONSIBILITY

TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE ABOVEMENTIONED

PROPERTY, AND THAT WE WILL PERFORM, OR CAUSE TO BE PERFORMED,

THOSE MAINTENANCE TASKS WHICH INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• KEEPING THE CARPETS AND FLOORS CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED
• REPLACING THE FURNACE FILTER AT LEAST EVERY THREE (3) MONTHS
• KEEPING WALLS AND CEILINGS FREE OF MARKS, STAINS, AND DAMAGE
• MAINTAINING A CLEAN, PEST-FREE INTERIOR
• KEEPING ALL APPLIANCES CLEAN AND WELL-MAINTAINED
• REPLACING THE BATTERIES IN SMOKE DETECTORS AND THERMOSTATS
• CLEANING GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS AT LEAST EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS

2) I/WE UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT MANAGEMENT WILL CONDUCT

SCHEDULED SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF THE PROPERTY TO ENSURE THAT

ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE IS BEING PERFORMED AND I/WE AGREE TO FULLY

COOPERATE IN THE SCHEDULING AND PERFORMANCE OF THESE SAFETY

INSPECTIONS.

So, when it's Safety Inspection time, we just call up the tenant and schedule one. They comply, just like they agreed (in writing) to do.

Admittedly, we do lease/purchases, so our tenants are better trained than most.

Still, it's very easy to set up a system that makes inspections simple and pain-free.