Inspecting your income property is an essential part of being a landlord. There are different types of inspections, both when the property is vacant and when you have tenants.

Keeping up with these inspections can help protect your investment, improve your relationship with renters, and keep maintenance costs to a minimum.

What are the different types and recommended frequency of landlord rental property inspections in Maryland? Here’s when you need to inspect your property to keep the unit safe and your tenants happy.

Before Listing the Property

Before you even start marketing a vacant property, you should do a pre-lease inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to document the property’s condition before your tenants even set foot in the place.

A pre-leasing inspection should include examining the property to ensure all appliances and major systems work, including the HVAC, plumbing, and hot water. You should also check for any water or mold damage, potential safety issues, and evidence of mice or bugs.

This inspection gives you a chance to fix any potential problems before listing the unit so they don’t turn up during the walk-through before tenants move in, and you have to rush to fix them before they sign the lease. Or even worse, after your tenants have already settled in.

When Tenants Move In

Conduct another inspection just before your tenants move in. You should walk through the entire property with the tenant, including the interior and exterior spaces such as a balcony, common area, or deck.

For this inspection, you should have a detailed checklist and document any existing damage and the condition of the property with photos or videos. This inspection is crucial because it gives you a baseline to compare the property condition to when your tenants move out.

Your tenants should receive a copy of the checklist and any notes documenting existing damage and the property’s condition. The checklist should also include furnishings and any existing items on the property.

Bi-Annual Inspections

Just because your tenants are settled in and not complaining about anything doesn’t mean you should skip regular inspections. Doing routine inspections gives you an opportunity to identify potential issues and damage that could result in liability for you as a landlord.

These inspections should ideally take place twice a year. The best times to do them are before extreme weather seasons, such as in the fall before the cold temperatures and in the spring before the summer heat and storms.

Be sure to check both the interior and exterior of the property. A checklist can help ensure you don’t forget to inspect items such as windows, locks, and outdoor structures to ensure safety and efficiency.

When Tenants Move Out

The move-out inspection should be done before the tenants move out—it’s important to schedule this in advance so tenants can be on-site.

Walk through the property again with the tenant and use your previous move-in checklist and photos to evaluate the condition of the property. Be sure to take additional pictures and videos of damaged items that could result in withholding part or all of the security deposit.

You and the tenant should sign and date the move-out checklist and inspection form. Let the tenant know if you find damage that could result in keeping some or all of the security deposit.

Have a Property Manager Handle Your Inspections

With all your responsibilities as a landlord, it’s understandable that inspections wouldn’t always make it to the top of your priority list. Let a professional property manager handle your Maryland income property for less stress and a better return on your investment. Contact FAS Management today to learn more at (202) 337-5080.