A Guide to Rental Property Inspections

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A Guide to Rental Property Inspections
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Property inspections often scare people because
they live under a common belief that with every
inspection, they have to shell out a lot of money
to get expensive repairs done or to improve the
interiors. But this is something you would not
want to do. So, one of the smartest things you
will do to keep the costs down is to get
proactive property inspections done. Regular or
alternate property inspections can help in
keeping repairs sorted. Through regular
inspections, maintenance issues, and warning
signs get sorted in time before these turn into
big, expensive issues. Also, if you want to nip
the issue in the bud, talk to your tenants openly
about it. Open communication will safeguard the
condition of your rentals and will even keep your
tenants around for the long-term. This blog will
take you through the importance of timely
property inspections. How it saves investors
(your) money, how to use routine inspections etc.
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How Inspections Save You Money?
No one would like to waste their hard-earned
money. So, as an investor, whether you work with
a property manager or you take a DIY approach
(Do-It-Yourself), keeping tabs on your rental
property will save you enough dollars. This is
because routine inspections are not just
conducted to keep your property tidy. But it
gives you a chance to pick up big or small
maintenance issues. For instance, if you find a
leaky tap in the bathroom, you can book a plumber
as early as possible. In early stage, you may
have to spend only 20 or little more. In case
you do not spot the issue at a right time, it
may turn out to be a big problem later on. Also,
you may have to spend more handling a big
trouble. Heres what one of our property managers
have to say, Property maintenance is a game of
time management. The longer repairs take, the
more irritable a tenant gets. Also, the situation
has a tendency to get worse. For tenants, it is
paramount to get things fixed on time because if
it takes too long, it can disrupt their life.
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How Often Routine Property Inspections Should Be
Conducted?

• Even though it is your property and you need to
  be proactive, remember to respect your tenants
  privacy. Conducting frequent inspections does not
  mean you visit your property anytime you want.
  You will have to inform the tenant prior to
  making a visit for conducting inspections.
• Heres what you should know when it comes to
  inspections and repairs
• You can only conduct routine inspections up to
  four times a year. You need to give your tenants
  at least seven days written notice before making
  a visit.
• For non-urgent repairs, you can access your
  property as and when required. Also, you will
  need to give your tenants at least two days'
  notice.

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Property Inspection Checklist Issues to Look For

• While booking routine inspection is important,
  these are helpful only if you know exactly what
  to look for during the visit.
• Also, we know that every property is different.
  So, a checklist that fits in one size will not
  take into account the maintenance needs of your
  investment property.
• So, let us see what maintenance issues should you
  be watching out during the inspections. Let us
  take you through the most common maintenance
  issues to look out for in our property
  inspection checklist

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Malfunctioning Smoke Detectors
While it is recommended to book a professional
annual smoke alarm inspection, it is also worth
checking if these alarms are working properly
during property inspections or not. Any Signs
of Dampness Check walls, window frames, ceilings,
and wet rooms if there is any moisture build-up,
condensation, musty odours, or even visible
mould patches. In case you spot a problem, act
swiftly.
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Cracks or Uneven Floors
While some small cracks are unavoidable, larger
cracks above doorways, floorings, or even
sagging ceilings can indicate there is a bigger
structural problem. Anything that seems big must
be addressed immediately. If you spot any of the
above issues, call in a building inspector who
will be able to resolve such structural issues
before they turn bigger.
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Loose or Rusting Balcony Rails
If your balcony has loose handrails or signs of
rust, close the access to the area immediately
and book in a licensed builder to inspect the
issue. As an owner, it is your responsibility to
ensure that these issues are inspected regularly
and maintained properly.
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Leaky Taps or Other Water Related Issues
Not only are leaky taps a major issue for your
tenants, they also lead to moisture build-up,
encourage moulds to grow, and waste up to 20,000
L of water annually. So, make sure you check all
the taps in your property and book in a plumber
if there are any leaking tap.
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Exhaust Fans
If the electric appliances are dysfunctional. For
example, if you notice your bathroom and laundry
exhaust fans are leaky, or leaving wet areas
filled with moisture and humidity, it is better
to get those replaced or repaired. Signs of
Termite Damage If the propertys doors or
windows are stiff and you are not able to open or
close it properly. If on opening or closing the
doors and windows, hollow sound is heard, it is a
sign of presence of termites. If there are any
signs of termites, book a professional termite
inspection and get the issue treated as soon as
possible. The key is to get the inspections and
repairs right. Have a clear list of potential
problems that you are proactively looking
forward to. That is when working with the right
property manager comes in handy. The property
managers are experienced professionals who use
their expertise to catch potential maintenance
issues before they turn into long-term costly
issues.
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GET IN TOUCH
1 Raphael St, Hallam VIC 3803 047 637
2002 rentals_at_freedomrealtors.com.au Content
Resource https//rentalpropertiesau.blogspot.com/
2022/02/a-guide-to-rental-property-
inspections.html
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