How To Properly Check The Condition Of The Rental Property: A Handy Guide

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In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, it is important for the tenant to inspect the rental property. And as a landlord, it’s your responsibility to provide a safe and habitable environment for those who rent from you. This article will show you what you need to do before renting out an apartment or house so that tenants can have peace of mind and landlords don’t have any complaints. 

How To Properly Check The Condition Of The Rental Property: A Handy Guide

Look At The Photographs Carefully

Before you go to the location, be sure to look at photographs of the property first. When you search homes for sale or for rent, there should be pictures of the interiors and exteriors. If you don’t have a chance to see pictures before, be sure to ask for them beforehand. Some apartments and houses are in such bad condition that looking at photos will be enough to give up on renting. This will save you a lot of time since you did not have to go to the location. On the other hand, if the property seems to be in solid condition, pay attention to things like the size of the room, the lighting of the space, what the furniture is like, etc.

Check The Location

It’s important that you familiarize yourself with the area where the property is located. You should know what other properties are nearby, how old these properties are, whether or not there’s good road access to the location, and if it’s a safe neighborhood. There may be a

reason why you don’t want to live in a certain part of town, so it’s important that you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Look For Obvious Issues

The first step in the inspection process when you go to the location is to look for any obvious issues. This includes things like cracks in the foundation or structure, problems with electrical wiring or plumbing, pest infestations, mold growth, etc. While less-obvious issues are often harder to identify right off of the bat, there are usually some pretty easy-to-spot problems that you can look out for. A legitimate rental property owner should be able to point out any potential problems because they are responsible for maintaining the property over the course of the tenancy.

Look For Obvious Issues

Ask The Landlord Plenty of Questions

When you meet your landlord, don’t let them rush through the details. Be sure to ask plenty of questions about the property’s location, neighborhood, utility connections, whether or not pets are allowed, etc. You also need to know how many people will be living in the property and how much rent is. If you have any problems later on, it’s a good idea to have this information written down so that you can refer back to it.

Be Sure To Check The Appliances & Fixtures

It’s pretty obvious when something doesn’t work. While some issues may be excluded from the warranty, there are other things that you should check regardless of whether or not they’re covered. If a toaster doesn’t pop up when it should or a faucet isn’t turned on all the way, take note of these problems so that you can mention them to your landlord when you fill out the inspection report. Appliances can be pretty costly so be sure to thoroughly check each one.

Check The Sound Insulation

You should also check the sound insulation of a property because it can have a big impact on your life while living there. If you live in an apartment, you probably don’t want to hear your neighbors constantly slamming doors or playing loud music during the night. Not only is this type of noise annoying, but it may also negatively affect your health if you’re not getting enough sleep. You should also be able to have a few friends over or to watch a movie without having to worry about the sound troubling your neighbors. Your landlord can make some changes in order to help improve the situation.

Take Pictures of The Property

When you go through the inspection, take pictures for your reference. This is a good way to keep a record of any problems that exist in case there’s ever a dispute later on.  You may not be able to take photos of everything, but make sure to cover the important stuff. For example, if there’s water damage in the roof or mold growth on an inside wall, you should definitely snap a picture of it before anything is repaired.

As the tenant, you are responsible for inspecting the apartment or house before you move in. You should know about some properties of the house and how old these properties are to avoid any unpleasant surprises later on. If there’s water damage in the roof or mold growth on an inside wall, take pictures of it so that they can be used as evidence if necessary (especially when disputes arise). It’s important to ask your landlord plenty of questions during your meeting. Also, be sure to check appliances and fixtures, as well as the sound insulation. After you’ve gone through the inspection, take pictures of any potential problems and ask your landlord to make a record of all the repairs and changes that were made after your meeting (to avoid future disputes). 

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