What to do on a renewal

[Nancy Molinari]

First, I am so thankful to have this site to ask questions, since I am only a duplex owner and live in one side - so many of you are real pros and you have all given me great advice before. So my question is, I offered my tenants a renewal on a lease that expires 7/31/12. They had just recently called me about a hot water heater issue, so I arranged for the gas company to come out and find out what was wrong. In doing this, I had peaked in the basement (for the first time since they moved in a year ago) where the tenant was, to let him know the gas company was coming out and noticed piles of "stuff" all over the place. My concern is whether their entire basement is filled with stuff and what the inside of the property looks like. I also just noticed from the outside today, a broken blind. Since I haven't provided them a written lease yet (still outside of the 30 day requirement), would you recommend I tell them I want to do a walk through before presenting another year's lease? I hate to have to go through the unpleasant task of taking applications and going without a month's rent again, but I'm concerned about what the inside looks like. Also, please know this is in CT, which is a tenant friendly state, not landlord friendly. Is it normal to ask to walk through before renewing a lease? Thanks everyone! Nancy

[Tom A.]

I like to say basements are anchors, they tend to keep tenants anchored to a house once they fill them up. Garages can be the same way.