Why are inspections important? Bottom line: owners and property managers need to know if there are any unreported maintenance issues that may devalue property or even pose health concerns for residents. Inspections help identify small maintenance issues (i.e. leaks) that may pose a bigger threat in the future. They also allow you to identify any tenants who have hoarding problems or destructive pets. (And, in the event that a tenant needs to be evicted, a paper trail documenting the outcomes from previous inspections is very helpful for court proceedings.)
I have heard some of my colleagues express concern that residents feel inspections are a violation of their privacy or simply annoying. However, I have always had success with communicating an upcoming inspection by letting residents know that inspections are for their own safety. Here is a sample email that I have used in the past:
We will be conducting our annual inspections of you and your neighbors’ homes shortly. We conduct inspections as part of our efforts to maintain a safe and clean community and to ensure that our residents have access to a sound living environment. You will not need to be at home for the inspection as we have access to your apartment.
Here are some of the things we will be reviewing:
- Are smoke detectors working and properly installed?
- Are light fixtures property secured? Are light bulbs in working order?
- Do all of the burners on the kitchen stove work? Does the stove exhaust fan work properly?
- Are heating units working properly? Are heating units adequately vented?
- Are fire exits accessible?
- Do window and door locks adequately secure the home?
- Are electrical outlets safe and secure?
- Is there access via a clear path to each room and appliance?
- Are there any water leaks or damage?
If you need any repairs made or have any concerns about your home’s maintenance, please let me know as soon as possible. We hope that this will not be an inconvenience, but an opportunity to provide superior service. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions.
