It’s important for a property owner to be able to have positive interactions with tenants. You can facilitate these interactions as early as the move-in walkthrough. Going for a move-in walkthrough, though, does come with a lot of benefits for you and your tenant. 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. In thinking this way, though, you may be robbing yourself of the many benefits that come with move-in walkthroughs. There should be a walkthrough at both move-in and move-out. What is this, you may ask? Basically, a move-in walkthrough is looking through the entire property with the goal of identifying (if any) potential problems or repairs needed before the tenant moves in.
It’s wise for Greenwood property managers to take the move-in walkthrough seriously. Here are a few reasons why that is the case.
- It can further establish trust between you and your new 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. When tenants can be assured that you will listen to their feedback, they will be more willing to report small issues. This, ultimately, can help reduce repair costs. This is an opportune time to go over the “house rules” with your tenant. These small interactions between you and your tenant can be what strengthens your relationship with them.
- It helps in being exact with the deductions from the deposit at the end of the lease. Make the move-out time go by smoothly by taking 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. For instance:
- Schedule a walkthrough with your tenant. Organize a set time for you and your new tenant to complete a move-in walkthrough. 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 should be given to your tenant, and both of you can comb through it together. After, ensure your tenant has his/her own hard copy of the checklist. This is a show of good faith as it informs your tenant that you are willing to deal in transparency and openness.
- Take photos. Make sure to take pictures of any issues you find, so as to properly document them. Pictures provide references for both repairs and comparisons for when it’s time to conduct the move-out walkthrough.
Yes, move-in walkthroughs will take time. Nonetheless, they are quite important. And, if your property is not near your area of residence, then these walkthroughs really have to be planned well. In this case, you will need someone who can really handle all of the planning and execution on your behalf, so that the walkthrough accomplishes what it is supposed to. At Real Property Management Indianapolis Metro, we provide a full range of services that help rental property owners make the most of their investments. Call 317-484-8444 today to learn more!
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