Before a tenant moves in, a proactive Albuquerque landlord will sign the lease agreement and talk about the expectations and responsibilities that are required during the tenancy. This is your best opportunity to establish an open, respectful, and communicative relationship with your new tenants.
There are also a few logistics to take care of. The move-in inspection will be one of the best ways to protect your Albuquerque rental property during the tenancy. We highly recommend using a move-in property condition checklist. This will allow you to effectively and accurately document the condition of the property before your new resident takes occupancy.
There are a few reasons that this is so crucial.
Property Condition Needs to be Near-Perfect
Do a thorough walk-through of your property to make sure everything is functional and ready for the tenant. You may have done this before you even put the home on the market, but you’ll want to do it again before the tenant moves in. This will eliminate any early maintenance requests and will also show your new residents that the care and condition of your property is important to you.
With a checklist, you can market off that there are no major issues like leaks under sinks. You can check off that every appliance has been tested and works. Check every light bulb and use your checklist as a reminder to install new air filters. Check the locks on windows and doors and make sure the blinds, drawers, and cupboards open and close with ease.
If there are any repairs that need to be made, get your vendors lined up before the move-in date. All work should be completed before your tenant takes possession of the home.
Move-In Checklists Document Cleanliness
A clean home is important, not only because tenants deserve to move into a property that’s free of dirt and debris but also because you expect to get the home returned in clean condition at the end of the lease term. Hire professional cleaners to take care of every detail before the tenant moves in, and make sure your checklist reflects that all standards of cleanliness have been met.
Document the Property Condition with a Checklist
The most important reason to use a move-in checklist is that this will allow you to document the condition of your property. This is essential, because you’ll use the same checklist to compare how the property looks at the end of the lease term. This will impact whether the security deposit is returned in full, in part, or not at all.
Take excellent pictures and even videos. Write up descriptions and make notes. You’ll want to provide your tenants with the opportunity to make any of their own observations on the condition of the property at move-in. Keep this in your records and refer to it when you’re inspecting the property at move-out.
A move-in checklist protects you and it protects your property. It also helps your residents because they shouldn’t be held responsible for pre-existing issues that may be present in the home.
We can help you have an easier move-in process. If you’d like some help with this or anything pertaining to Albuquerque property management, please contact us at Bruni/Karr Rental & Management Agency.
