Are you planning on renting out your property in South Bend, IN? It's a great city to live in and has an affordable renting rate for most Americans.
However, this comes with a caveat. You may attract many potential tenants to your South Bend rental property. The problem is that they may not always be the most responsible ones!
This is why rental property inspections are important. But how often should you conduct them for your property?
Here's what you must know:
Understanding Rental Inspection Laws
One of the most important parts of being a landlord is understanding the landlord-tenant relationship. Tenants are entitled to their privacy, so you have to be careful that you're not intrusive.
You must always inform the tenant of a scheduled inspection. The tenant has the full right to remain in the property during the inspection.
You should also schedule the inspection at a reasonable time. The inspection shouldn't impede the tenant's schedule.
How Often to Conduct Rental Property Inspections
You must always keep tenant privacy in mind when scheduling rental property inspections. Rental inspection frequency shouldn't cross the line where your tenant will feel you're being intrusive.
You should conduct at least one move-in and move-out inspection. The first inspection should occur a few days before your tenant moves in. The final inspection can occur on the day they leave or a few days before.
You can also conduct inspections during the tenant's stay. You may consider doing one every three months. If you have a responsible tenant, you can reduce this to one or two inspections during their stay.
Rental inspections shouldn't be rushed, but they also shouldn't take too much time. Your tenant is entitled to quiet privacy. Keep the inspections short and keep records of any potential issues.
You can discuss these issues immediately with your tenant or at a later stage.
Once in a while, you can message your tenant to ask them if all is well. Let them know that they should inform you of any potential issues with the property. This is a quick method to reduce the need for frequent rental property inspections.
Best Practices
Before promoting your property, you should conduct at least one inspection. If there are any issues that require maintenance, repair, or renovation, you must attend to them immediately.
During long vacant periods, conduct inspections to check if any maintenance tasks are required. It's best to get your property cleaned at least twice per month during vacant periods. This reduces the likelihood of any potential maintenance issues.
Conduct Rental Property Inspections
Now you understand the importance of rental property inspections and how often to conduct them.
Inspections should be conducted often enough to keep an eye on your property. However, always make sure they never intrude on your tenant's privacy. The best solution is to hire a property manager to help you with the entire process.
PMI Michiana has received consistent five-star ratings from South Bend landlords like you. We'd be glad to help you.
