It’s important for a property owner to be able to have positive interactions with tenants. This is something you can do during the conduction of a move-in walkthrough. Both you and your tenant will be able to benefit a lot from a move-in walkthrough. Let’s look at these benefits for property owners and a few best practices for making the most of your move-in walkthrough.
Rethinking the Move-In Walkthrough
Too often, the move-in walkthrough is viewed as more of a tenant’s responsibility than something a landlord does. However, this view of move-in walkthroughs does little to benefit you. A walkthrough should be held at both move-in and move-out. For the sake of those who don’t know what a move-in walkthrough is, it’s basically a thorough checking of the property to see if there are any repairs or issues that need to be addressed before the tenant moves in.
It’s wise for Southwest Waterfront property managers to take the move-in walkthrough seriously. Here are 2 good reasons:
- It facilitates good relations between you and your tenant. Walking through the property with your tenant will make it clear to him/her that you are concerned about the maintenance of your property, and that you are open to what your tenant has to say about it as well. Tenants will be more open to reporting small issues immediately if they know that their landlord responds positively. In the bigger picture, this helps reduce repair costs. During these moments, take the time to review “house rules” with your renter. Make sure that your connection with your tenant is honest and healthy. In this way, you can build a relationship that is sincere and open.
- And, it helps to have the actual deductions from the deposit right at the end of the lease. So that the move-out time is hassle-free, you need good documentation of your property’s condition before your tenant moves in. This can help you better gauge wear and tear and other repair issues and provide ample evidence to support any deductions you make from your tenant’s security deposit.
Walkthrough Best Practices
To get the full benefits of a move-in walkthrough, you have to look at some of the best practices. Such as:
- Schedule a walkthrough with your tenant. Prepare a set time for both you and your new tenant to have a move-in walkthrough in person. This is a great chance for you to bond with your new tenant and establish good rapport through face-to-face interaction!
- Use a checklist. A move-in checklist is something you can go over with your new tenant. After, ensure your tenant has his/her own hard copy of the checklist. This speaks volumes about how you will be interacting with your tenant. This shows that you are transparent and open with the expectations at the very start.
- Take photos. Make sure to take pictures of any issues you find, so as to properly document them. These pictures can be used to schedule repairs, and they can serve as a reference for when you will need to do a move-out walkthrough.
The value these move-in walkthroughs provide is really good; however, they tend to take a good amount of time. If your property is not nearly accessible to you, you should be able to make the most out of a walkthrough. You need someone who can handle the logistics and the planning for you, so as to optimize the time you allocate for these kinds of things. At Real Property Management Washington DC, we provide a full range of services that help rental property owners make the most of their investments. Call 202-813-9993 today to learn more!
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