MOVE OUT INSPECTION
One of the most important parts of property management happens after a tenant moves out and before the next tenant moves in: the move-out inspection.
In this video, Jeff walks through a real move-out inspection after tenants vacated a property over the weekend. This process helps us document the home’s condition, identify any cleaning or maintenance needs, and prepare the property for its next tenants.
DOCUMENTING THE PROPERTY
Before anything else, Jeff records a video of the property. He starts by stating the date and property address, then walks through the entire home.
This video serves multiple purposes. It documents exactly how the previous tenants left the property, provides a starting point for incoming tenants, and gives us a record we can refer back to in the future if questions arise.
Because we also have videos from before the tenants moved in, we can compare the property’s condition over time and make fair decisions regarding security deposit deductions.
LOOKING BEYOND THE BIG ISSUES
During the inspection, Jeff pays attention to details that are often overlooked. He checks that light fixtures are clean, verifies that mailbox keys have been returned, and carefully inspects appliances.
One of the first things he noticed during this inspection was that the oven had not been cleaned. He also found a layer of dirt on the baseboards that would need attention before the next tenants move in.
Our goal is simple: deliver a clean, well-maintained home to the next residents.
HOW CLEANING CHARGES ARE HANDLED
When cleaning is needed, we don’t itemize every cleaning task and charge tenants separately for each item. Instead, we hire professional cleaners and charge the actual cleaning cost against the security deposit. This creates a more straightforward process and ensures the property is cleaned to the standard expected by both owners and incoming tenants.
For tenants, taking the time to thoroughly clean the property before moving out is never wasted effort. Even if professional cleaners still need to come in, a home that is mostly clean typically requires less work, which can result in lower cleaning costs being deducted from the security deposit.
MANAGING QUICK TURNAROUNDS
Sometimes a property has very little downtime between tenants. When outgoing tenants leave the home in less-than-ready condition and new tenants are scheduled to move in shortly after, it can create challenges.
Whenever possible, we schedule cleaning and maintenance before the new tenants arrive. If timing doesn’t allow for that, we may coordinate cleaning while the new tenants are moving in or provide compensation that reflects the cleaning work that still needs to be completed.
It’s not always a perfect situation, but we work hard to make it right for everyone involved.
FAIRNESS MATTERS
One reason we document properties so thoroughly is to ensure fairness.
We don’t want to charge a tenant for damage they didn’t cause, and we don’t want to overlook costs that should rightfully be covered by the security deposit. Having move-in and move-out documentation allows us to make decisions based on facts rather than memory.
THE LITTLE THINGS ADD UP
One of the most common missing items we find during move-out inspections is doorstops. While it may seem minor, small items like these still need to be replaced before the next tenant moves in.
It’s important to remember that we don’t expect a home to look exactly the same after someone has lived there. Families have kids, furniture gets moved, and normal wear and tear happens. We understand that.
That’s exactly why security deposits exist—to help cover costs associated with returning the property to a move-in-ready condition.
RETURNING AS MUCH OF THE DEPOSIT AS POSSIBLE
Our philosophy is simple: return as much of the security deposit as we reasonably can.
At the same time, we have a responsibility to maintain the property’s condition and protect the owner’s investment. We never want owners paying for expenses that should be covered by the tenant’s deposit, but we also don’t want tenants charged for things they aren’t responsible for.
By carefully documenting every move-in and move-out inspection, we can strike that balance and keep the process fair for everyone involved.
