Rental inspections serve a number of purposes. They keep your Ormond Beach investment property well-maintained and they alert you to any preventative issues that need to be addressed. When you’re routinely inspecting your property, you’re less likely to have emergency repairs needed. You have a clear understanding of what’s working and what needs work.
A checklist can be a handy tool when you’re inspecting your property. What you’re looking for and inspecting will depend on whether the property is occupied or vacant. Every inspection should include checking for water intrusion and safety and habitability issues.
Here are some additional things to look for during each inspection.
Move-In and Move-Out Checklists
The two most important inspections you’ll conduct as a rental property owner are the move-in and move-out inspections. These inspection reports will document the condition of your property and give you a good idea of what type of work needs to be done.
During the move-in inspection, take photos of everything, even the insides of closets and cupboards. You’ll want an accurate and detailed starting point against which to measure all future inspections. During the move-out inspection, you’ll compare the condition of your property at the end of the tenancy to the way it looked before a tenant took possession. This will help you make decisions about the security deposit. It will also provide a guideline for turning the property over and getting it ready for the next resident.
Plumbing as an Inspection Checklist Item
One of the most consistent things on your rental inspection checklist has to be plumbing.
Water damage is expensive and difficult to repair. Small leaks are easy to ignore, but they almost always turn into larger leaks that damage floors and walls and eventually lead to rot and mold. Be proactive about preventing them. Anytime you are in the property, take a look at the areas under sinks. Check the floors around toilets and tubs to be sure there isn’t any softening. Look for drooping or discolored ceilings and walls.
Inspect the roof as well. It’s possible water is getting into your house through the roof, and that will require some immediate repairs.
Ormond Beach HVAC Inspections
One of the most expensive systems in your rental property is the heating and cooling system. In Ormond Beach and throughout central Florida, air conditioning in your rental home will work overtime. There’s humidity and heat almost all year long, which means those systems need to be in great shape.
Have your HVAC system inspected and serviced annually. This absolutely must be a checklist item for owners and investors in this part of the country. Routine inspections will ensure it’s working properly, and it will also extend the life of your heating and cooling system. The tenants will appreciate this because it will improve their air quality and keep their energy costs down.
Hurricanes and Seasonal Preventative Maintenance
In Ormond Beach, seasonal preventative maintenance isn’t terribly dramatic. No one will have to worry about frozen pipes and snowfalls. However, we do have a storm season. Tropical storms are dangerous and hurricanes will occasionally affect us in central Florida. Over the last five or 10 years, Florida has seen terrible storms, and not just on the coasts.
Preparing for storms and hurricanes has to be on your preventative maintenance checklist. Your tenants need to understand all the security precautions and your home needs to be protected against the potential for high winds and flash floods. You might want to consider investing in hurricane shutters and high impact windows.
These are some of the checklist items you’ll want to have during every rental inspection. If you’re taking a look around while the property is occupied, you should also take the opportunity to look for any lease violations or issues that need to be addressed with your tenants.
We provide inspections to our Ormond Beach property management clients. If you’d like some help with this, please contact us at Oceans Luxury Realty.
