Get Personal
No substitute exists for an in-person walkthrough. The property may have been inspected for you, according to a friendly Hackensack property manager, but you should still make sure everything is in order. Even while most landlords are not intentionally trying to deceive you, you may discover maintenance or other issues that were omitted from the report. If you don’t thoroughly assess every part of your rental property, you may end up paying to replace things that were broken before your occupancy.
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 guarantee you haven’t skipped anything. Some landlords might give you a checklist; others might not. If yours does not, you can get numerous lists and guidelines from the Internet. It’s necessary to have an inventory because it will help you focus your walkthrough and make sure nothing is missed. Additionally, as you leave, you can compare your checklist with other items.
Check for Potential Hazards
A checklist can help to assure that a move-in inspection is comprehensive. It is also essential to identify any potential health and safety hazards that may not be immediately apparent. For instance, be sure the appliances and smoke detectors in the new rental home are functioning properly. Ask for proof of the presence of asbestos or lead paint as well, if your landlord didn’t supply it. Before actually moving into a rental property, it is crucial to learn everything there is to know about these hazards, which can create major health difficulties over time.
Document Everything
To make the most of your move-in inspection, you must do more than simply mark off items on a list. You must thoroughly and properly document every component of the property’s condition before moving in to properly secure your security deposit from unauthorized repair expenditures. 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. The majority of landlords will not attempt to ask you to repair an entire kitchen floor for a single damaged linoleum tile, but some may. Taking photographs of the property as you tour it is a second effective method. Make certain to take a variety of close-up and wide-angle views and to store your photographs in a safe area.
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. Send them a letter if possible to ensure you have documentation of the identified 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. Making every effort to thoroughly document the condition of your rental house when you move in can help ensure that you get your security deposit back.
Are you trying to find a new house? Real Property Management Concierge has the one for you! You can browse our listings online or call us at 201-514-1603.