Missing Items
Some tenants do, in fact, steal from their landlords. Part of your inspection must include checking for any missing items. Go through your lease carefully to see what you agreed to leave in the home for tenants. Make sure everything is there and that the tenant didn’t take anything with them before you release their security deposit.
Other Hidden Signs of Damage
You also want to check for hidden signs of damage. Normal wear and tear is to be expected (after all, your tenant was living there), but there could be hidden damage that isn’t noticeable at first glance. For example, perhaps there’s damage done to a cabinet door or closet door—e.g., the tenant accidentally was a little too hard on a cabinet or closet door and caused some damage, but you can’t see it right away, unless you do a careful inspection. Don’t forget to look underneath all the rugs. If there are any rugs that are movable, such as throw rugs, move them and make sure there’s no damage underneath. The same goes for carpeting. Typical carpet damage includes food stains, wine stains, paint stains, pet-related stains, cigarette burns, and other types of burns. If there’s carpet damage, look underneath at the subfloor to make sure there hasn’t been additional damage there. For example, water and urine can both soak from the carpet into the floor, and can lead to structural damage.
Unpaid Utility Bills
Finally, make sure utility bills are paid, paid in full, and paid up to date. This is an area that many rental property owners miss or forget about. A tenant might try to sneak away without paying the last month or two of utilities charges, leaving you to foot the bill before a new tenant comes on board if you’ve released the
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