Pub. 1 2016 Issue 3

10 www.ctaahq.org 䌀吀䄀䄀 吀䠀䔀䌀伀一一䔀䌀吀䤀䌀唀吀䄀倀䄀刀吀䴀䔀一吀䄀匀匀伀䌀䤀䄀吀䤀伀一  P reventive maintenance does more than save you money over time, although it certainly does accomplish that goal. It is always less expensive to x a small problem than a large one, and so catching problems while they can still be categorized as small is a key strategy for maximizing resources instead of wasting them. However, routine property inspections are also a good way to maintain good relationships with your tenants. It lets tenants know that you care about them, that you have taken responsibility for managing their unit, and that you are both professional and thorough. Your management routine should include four di erent types of inspections: MOVE-IN INSPECTION is inspection should not take place until a unit is ready to rent. If you conduct an inspection before that, it might well turn into a wish-list for changes. It’s better to contain the scope by having the rental be essentially ready for occupancy. is type of inspection should be conducted by the tenant, but you should be there, and you should have a check-o form for the tenant to sign and date. is protects you. What you don’t want is for the tenants to be able to say later that they didn’t take a good look at the property before moving in. e inspection essentially consists of walking through the prop- erty and documenting any issues that could be a problem when your tenants move out again. If you notice small problems, take a photo of them, then print them and le the photos with the move-in inspection papers. ROUTINE INSPECTIONS You should conduct routine inspections. Plan on notifying tenants about your routine inspection and then make sure you visit each rental every three to six months so you can check the property for safety and cleanliness. Some people recommend a routine inspection once a year, but that leaves a long time for a problem to get worse; shorter times in between are better. Try to pick a reasonable amount of time between inspections; if you have a tenant who is a disorganized, you might want to have more frequent inspections than with someone who is more organized. Most tenants welcome routine inspections if they understand that it is a routine event and that you will use it as a way to maintain their rental unit. Communicate with tenants about what you are doing and why. In most cases, you should be aware that advance notice is man- datory unless you think the tenants are breaking an ordinance or local law. Find out what the governing laws are in your area so you know what your rights and the tenants’ rights are. Have one or more tenants with you while you make the inspec- tion. You don’t want to be accused of anything afterwards. If ROUTINE PROPERTY INSPECTIONS