move out inspection checklist for landlord

#Move out inspection checklist for landlord how to#

Whether you are a tenant moving out of a rental property or a property manager preparing for new tenants, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the end-of-lease process and its various components.īelow, we'll outline the various aspects of the end-of-lease process that every property manager should fully understand before the end of a lease approaches. This can be city specific as shown by the NYC Laws.The end-of-lease process is an important aspect of rental property management that every tenant and landlord should understand. Make sure you’re researching when the security deposit must be returned. This gives landlords time to really make sure the unit’s damages have all been discovered. States allow anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more to refund the deposit. RentPrep also advises landlords to never hand over the security deposit refund to the tenant at the move out inspection.

Too many problems will be missed if they rush. They should never be in a hurry to do the inspection.

Landlords should always follow a checklist that includes lots of details about the unit. Ultimately, the inspection itself is the important part. There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to doing a move out inspection with the tenant or without. RentPrep’s Take on a Move Out Inspection With the Tenant

#Move out inspection checklist for landlord how to#

Check out how to take the best move-out inspection photos and videos for your files: It’s especially important for landlords to take date stamped photos of all damages to the unit in case the tenant contests them. Experts recommend doing an inspection within a day or two. Landlords can do the inspection whenever they want after the tenant turns over the keys. Often, tenants try to hide or cover up damages that aren’t discovered until later.Īnother advantage of doing a move out inspection without a tenant is that it can be difficult to coordinate schedules. Landlords may feel as if they are rushed or don’t have enough of a window to do a really good inspection when the tenant is there. The main reason why many landlords choose to do a move out inspection without the tenant present has to do with time. Benefits of a Move Out Inspection Without the Tenant Landlords should always take date stamped photos of any damages, with or without the tenant present. Once the tenant is gone, this can be difficult to track down. They also have the opportunity to get the tenant’s forwarding address and contact information. The landlord doesn’t have to deal with the back and forth that often results with refunding the security deposit.Īnother advantage to doing a move out inspection with a tenant is that the landlord can get their signature on the move out checklist. The tenant knows what damages the landlord is counting. This avoids denials, accusations and more from both the landlord and the tenant with regards to damages.

The first advantage is that both sides are present and can review the unit together. Landlords that choose to do the move out inspection with the tenant present think its a good idea for several reasons. Much of this is covered in the video below and we will provide further text to summarize the video.īenefits of a Move Out Inspection With the Tenant We covered in depth how to do a move in inspection but this post will be specifically about a landlord move out inspection. Many landlords use a checklist with the move out inspection, but is it better to do so with the tenant or alone? A tenant move out inspection is a way for the landlord to evaluate how much damage has been done so they can deduct that from the security deposit. However, most tenants leave behind some damage to the rental property. When a tenant is moving out, they are usually eager to get as much of their security deposit back as they can.