San Diego has been one of the most popular cities in the country for new and old residents. However, a major change has been happening in the past few years. The county has lost a huge chunk of its population since 2022.
This doesn't have to deter you, as there are still plenty of Americans eager to continue living in San Diego. However, it does mean that you'll have to work extra hard to offer the best property.
One way to do this is by ensuring high-quality maintenance. This can only come with regular rental property inspections.
What Are Rental Property Inspections?
Rental property inspections are the procedure for looking for any damage, stains, or hazards in your home. After the inspection, you'll know if you need any property repairs or renovations.
Here are a few things to look out for when conducting rental property inspections:
- Stains and spills that are hard to remove
- Damage caused by pets
- Faulty or broken appliances
- Loose electric wires
- Broken or cracked windows and other glass furniture
- Leaking and standing water
- Water damage
- Mold, asbestos, and other pollutants
- Old paint
- Potential fire hazards
- Faulty alarm systems
These inspections are necessary to stay compliant with state laws when renting a property to tenants. You want to make sure that you never put your tenant in harm's way due to poor maintenance.
Frequency of Rental Property Inspections
Now let's look at how often you should conduct these rental property inspections. As long as you maintain your property well, you can hold these once every six months.
If there are serious issues with your property or it's a bit older, you might wish to conduct inspections every three months. Your main focus should be on maintenance, so you don't have to have frequent rental property inspections.
You can conduct rental property inspections while a tenant is living in your home. However, make sure your lease agreement mentions that you wish to conduct these inspections during their stay.
The inspections must be scheduled at a reasonable time that works for both parties. The tenant has every right to be present during the inspection period. Keep in mind that too many inspections might be in violation of the tenant's privacy.
As long as the tenant is responsible, two inspections during a one-year period should suffice. If there is major damage to the property, you can consider having an inspection every four months.
Make sure you hire a rental management company to help you with arranging inspections. They can also assist with overall maintenance coordination.
Start Earning Rental Income
The best landlord advice is to keep your house in order so your tenants can stay for the long-term. You can ensure good maintenance with regular rental property inspections.
Conduct these inspections during vacant periods as well as when you have tenants. Focus mainly on maintenance to avoid excessive inspections.
Harland Property Management is one of San Diego's leading property management companies. We have many positive testimonials from landlords throughout the city, and we look forward to helping you.
