Tip of the Month - December 2007
MOVE-OUT
Source: Property Management for Dummies by Robert Griswold
Try to schedule the move-out inspection with your vacating Tenants just
AFTER they have removed all their furnishings and personal items,
turned in all their keys, and had the utilities disconnected. The
only way to determine the condition of some parts of the unit is to
wait until the rental unit is vacant. Also, you want to make sure
that the Tenant does not do additional damage after the inspection
while they are removing their possessions.
Unfortunately, you cannot always arrange to do the inspection with the
Tenant at this time. If that is the case, conduct the move-out
inspection as soon as possible and preferably with a Witness present.
If you wait too long to inspect the unit and then discover
damage, the Tenant may claim that someone else must have caused the
damage and you may face an uphill battle in court.
Tenants have been known to show up for the walkthrough but deny that
they know anything about the damaged items you find. Refer to
your Move-Out Inspection Checklist in these situations. If the
item is clearly indicated on the checklist as being in good condition
when the Tenant moved in, the Tenant does not stand much of a chance.
However, if the move-in remarks are blank or vague, you may have some
problems justifying a deduction. Remember: As the rental housing
professional, the courts hold you to a higher standard and interpret
your vague documents in favor of the Tenant.
**NOTE FROM CROSSETT REAL ESTATE**
Make sure you get all keys returned: has the Tenant given out
keys? When keys are surrendered, the Tenant has surrendered the
unit. **Rotate locks & keys after each Tenant.***
Return
to prior page
This web
page was updated on 12/03/2007.