Benefits of a Move-in Inspection
A move-in inspection is necessary and extremely important, not only does it specify the condition of the house; this information is also used as the baseline for the slightest possibility a dispute may arise. It is essential for the tenant to insist on this inspection before he or she moves in.
"What should be covered in a move-in inspection," you may ask. Because the landlord will expect the house to be in an almost similar status when moving out, make sure to capture almost everything to do with the current condition. The inspection should capture the status if surfaces, whether the halls are painted, whether the floors are in good condition and whether there are any repairs which need to be done. The information gathered can inform the landlord on the areas that require attention before the tenant moves in. This will help save the tenant the trouble of taking up a property with some defects and will in turn not have them occasionally following up with the landlord to carry out maintenance.
In the course of a tenant's stay, it is expected they keep the property in good condition; almost in the same state as it was when they initially moved in. Upon move-out, the tenant should be aware of what is required of him or her, especially when it comes to repairs. If unclear, refer to the documentation signed by both parties stipulating who is responsible for what task to the property; knowing this will help moving out become an easy and simple process.
Keep in mind, anything which is not matching the information available on the move-in inspection will be the responsibility of the tenant. Tenants can end up losing their deposit due to the property being left in bad condition and the landlord having to use it in order to carry out repairs on damages caused during the stay.
Tenants need to know landlords are not required by law to complete a move-in inspection. In the event a landlord does not perform one, the tenant can take initiative and make a list to give to the landlord.
The concept of a move-in inspection should be embraced by both the tenant and landlord. It's an exercise that goes a long way in addressing issues and concerns before, during and after an occupancy contract.