A Guide for Golden Landlords on Move-in and Move-out Inspection Checklists

The two more critical periods of any rental experience are the move-in inspection and the move-out inspection. During these visits to the property, you’ll be documenting the condition of your Golden rental property and taking a lot of photos, videos, and notes to support what you find.

A checklist is crucial. Not only does it keep you organized, but it also demonstrates your process in case there are any questions or conflicts about security deposit returns.

If you’re a landlord preparing to move your tenant in or out, pay attention to the following details.

Checklist Items Include Maintenance Needs

Before your tenant moves in, do a thorough walk-through of your property to make sure everything is functional and ready for occupancy. You want to take a complete look around before you turn over the keys.

The first thing on your condition checklist should be any repairs that need to be made before the move-in date. Take care of even the little things. Have chipped paint taken care of and make sure all the outlets work. Test every appliance and turn on the water in each faucet.

This inspection and checklist will allow you to create a property condition report. You’ll use this checklist to demonstrate that the last inspection before move-in showed that everything was in good working order.

If there are any repairs that need to be made, get your vendors lined up before the move-in date. All work must be completed and checked off the list before your tenant takes possession of the home.

During the move-out inspection, you’ll also look for maintenance needs. Create a checklist that documents any damage or routine wear and tear that will require vendors or contractors.

Check for Cleaning

Another checklist item is cleaning.

Tenants want to move into a clean property. You also want to make sure you get a clean property returned to you at the end of the lease term.

Use your move-in condition checklist to confirm that floors, sinks, tubs, and toilets are free of dirt, debris, and dust. Hire professional cleaners to take care of every detail before the tenant moves in, and make sure your checklist reflects that all standards of cleanliness have been met.

Making this a checklist item is important because it establishes your standards. You’re showing tenants how you expect the property to look after they move out.

During the move-out inspection, your checklist will demonstrate whether the tenants fulfilled their lease requirements by providing a clean home before vacating. Your lease may require a professional carpet cleaning. Check off whether documentation was provided to prove this was accomplished.

Communicate Expectations and Agree on Condition

Tenants should be provided your move-in checklist once they’ve settled into the property. They’ll have the opportunity to document any issues that they noticed. This will protect them at the end of the lease agreement and it will also notify you of any minor repairs that may need to be taken care of early.

Use this checklist to talk with your tenants about your expectations for maintenance and cleanliness. When both of you sign the inspection report, you’re agreeing to how the property looks at the time of move-in and agreeing to how it should look once the tenancy is over.

We use a digital walkthrough for tenants to fill out, which requires them to take photos of any damage noted on the inspection for future clarification. It is very detailed and is an asset in any future disputes.

Maintenance and cleanlinessWe know the move-in and move-out process can be challenging. If you’d like some support in the management of your Golden rental property, please contact us at Laurel Property Services, Inc.

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