The 5 Different Types of Rental Property Inspections

Keeping a rental property profitable by preventing tenant damage is a priority for all savvy owners and managers.  Just remember, you don’t want to micromanage your tenants either as they have the right to enjoy the property, they lease from you.  However, you cannot just rent it out to anyone. This is why having a professional rental property inspection is essential before handing things over before your new tenants move in.

Interestingly enough, there is more than one type of inspection for rental properties.  There are 5 different types as follows:

  • Drive-by inspections – as the most cursory type of inspection, the landlord, property manager, or property owner is not obligated to inform the tenant before conducting this type of inspection.  Whenever a drive-by inspection is done, it’s to discover anything that may not seem right or is out of place.  Furthermore, they can be performed as often as the property owner, manager, or landlord desires.

  • HUD inspections – similar to marketing a rental property, HUD inspections help to increase the number of prospective tenants that are attracted to the rental.  Backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, this particular program helps you find affordable and decent housing.  Since it’s common for some low-income properties to have lower standards, this program ensures that all homes meet the basic Housing Quality Standards set by HUD.

  • Move-in inspections – as the name implies, these inspections are appropriate when new tenants begin their lease terms.  Once the lease has been signed, the manager or owner and tenant typically do a walk-through of the property along with a detailed checklist and record condition of all contents and structural features.

  • Move-out inspections – this inspection is performed when the lease expires and the tenant moves out.  It is the follow-up to the move-in inspection and ideally occurs once the tenant has moved out all of their belongings.  At this time, the tenant and landlord, manager, or owner of the property will do the inspection.

  • Quarterly inspections – this routine assessment of the property is done in conjunction with seasonal maintenance.  Landlords normally have a list of specific maintenance tasks to perform at the beginning of each season.  These tasks address problems that were created during the prior season and prepare the home for the next season.

Whether it’s home, mold, or multi-unit housing property inspections; radon testing; or wood destroying insect (termite) testing, we offer the most extensive line of services for commercial and residential property owners. That ensures that the property is safe at all times for the tenants and the homeowners. Call Clark Contract Inspection services at (309) 489-7224 for additional information.

Anthony Clark