It can be thrilling to move into a new Chevy Chase rental house. How can you ensure your security deposit is secured? A pre-move-in inspection of the property. You should still complete a tour whether or not your landlord gives one. To get the most out of your move-in tour, it’s vital to keep the following suggestions in mind.
Get Personal
An in-person walkthrough is incomparable to anything. You should still conduct your own inspections even if a helpful Chevy Chase property manager claims to have checked the home for you. You might find maintenance or other issues that were overlooked in the report, even though the majority of landlords won’t be trying to intentionally fool you. You risk having to pay to fix something that was damaged before you moved in if you don’t thoroughly inspect every component of your rental property.
Use a Checklist
You should thoroughly examine every area of your rental home during your move-in walkthrough to make the most of it. Use a walkthrough checklist to make sure nothing has been overlooked. A checklist might be offered to you by some property managers, but not by others. If not, there are numerous lists and manuals available for download online. Making an inventory can help you focus your walkthrough and ensure nothing is missed. Also, you can apply your checklist as a comparison tool once you move out.
Check for Potential Hazards
Make sure to conduct a complete move-in inspection by using a checklist. Additionally, any potential risks to one’s health and safety hazards that might not be apparent at first look should be noted. Check the appliances and smoke alarms in your new rental home, for instance, to be sure they are working properly. Ask for proof of the presence of asbestos or lead paint as well, if your landlord didn’t supply it. Before settling in, find out everything you can about the rental home because these compounds have the potential to create major health problems.
Document Everything
It takes more than just crossing things off to make the most of your move-in inspection. To completely shield your security deposit against unjustified repair expenses, you must document every part of the property’s condition before moving in. Take down notes, either on the checklist or on a separate page as well as keep track of condition issues, locations, and others, no matter how little. While most landlords won’t try to make you pay to repair the entire kitchen floor because of one broken area of the linoleum, others might. Using a camera to snap images of the property as you explore it is another excellent tactic. To ensure that your images are secure, take a variety of close-up and wider shots.
Report Maintenance Issues
Address any maintenance concerns you find as soon as your walkthrough and documentation are finished. Non-functioning light switches or outlets, leaking faucets, and broken toilet seats or blinds, may not seem like a big issue, but you must notify your property manager immediately if these things are broken or malfunctioning before you move in. Give them something in writing if you can to make sure you have documentation of the reported problems. You’ll be shielded from unfair charges as a result of doing this, and your security deposit will be safe once you’ve moved out as well.
Attempting to make the most of your move-in walkthrough does need some more work, but it’s beneficial. Nothing but diligently documenting the condition of your rental home upon move-in can ensure you receive your security deposit returned in full.
Do you want a new place to live? Real Property Management Washington DC has the one for you! You can browse our listings online or call us at 202-813-9993.
Originally Published on July 17, 2020
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