Why Property Management Companies in Charleston SC Inspect Properties

No news is not good news when it comes to your rental properties. Even if you have the best residents in Charleston living in the best rental home in the state, things can (and will) go wrong without keeping an eye on the property. 

In this blog, we will focus on the importance of regular property inspections and how our residential property management company handles this crucial aspect of maintaining your rental property in Charleston, SC.

What Are Property Inspections Important?

Regular property inspections are a crucial aspect of maintaining a residential rental property investment. These regular inspections ensure that your property is in good condition and that any necessary maintenance repairs happen promptly. 

Additionally, routine property inspections help to prevent costly repairs that can result from deferred maintenance. Property managers recommend conducting property inspections regularly, either by yourself or by hiring a property management company.

Best Practices for Property Inspections

What should rental property owners keep in mind when scheduling and going through properties for inspections? There are several best practices that you should follow. 

Here are some of the best practices we apply to every rental property under our management at Charleston Property Company.

Never Skip Regular Inspections

One of the most important aspects of property inspections is scheduling them regularly. 

At Charleston Property Company, we conduct property inspections at least twice a year. We also conduct inspections at the beginning and end of a tenant's lease term. 

By scheduling these property reviews and letting renters know it's part of our management services, we can identify any potential maintenance issues early on and address them before they become significant and potentially costly problems.

Give Adequate Notice

Keeping a regular schedule of property reviews is crucial, but property owners and managers should avoid arriving for an inspection without giving notice to the residents. 

Tenants must be given adequate notice of the impending property inspection to protect their right to privacy. Unannounced visits can violate the lease agreement and landlord-tenant laws, leading to legal problems for property owners. 

At Charleston Property Company, we provide our tenants with a minimum of 24 hours' notice before conducting an inspection. This gives them enough time to prepare for the inspection and ensure their living spaces are clean and tidy.

Check All Areas of the Property

When conducting a property inspection, it's essential to thoroughly check all areas of the property. This includes checking the exterior, interior, and any appliances included in the rental. 

Being thorough is the best way to catch small issues that could become costly repairs if overlooked for too long. It's also an excellent way to ensure your tenants follow the lease and care for the property as outlined in the rules. 

At Charleston Property Company, we have a comprehensive checklist to ensure that we don't miss any areas of the property during inspections.

Document the Inspection

During a property inspection, it's essential to document any maintenance issues that you find. Without good documentation, property owners can have issues holding renters responsible for damages they caused or not having verification that they discovered an issue and promptly fixed it. 

At Charleston Property Company, we take photos of any issues we identify and document them in our property management software. This helps us keep track of maintenance issues and ensures they are addressed promptly.

Common Property Inspection Mistakes to Avoid 

While property inspections are crucial, some rental owners and property management companies make costly mistakes when conducting them. Here are some of the most common mistakes we have seen (and things you should avoid). 

Not Conducting Inspections Regularly

One of the most common mistakes landlords make is not conducting inspections often enough. While you shouldn't visit your properties too often to the point that tenants become annoyed, only visiting your property when renters move out can lead to discovering surprises that should have been repaired sooner.  

Plan ahead at the start of the lease term and put inspections on the calendar with reminders to confirm a date and time with your residents in advance.

Not Giving Adequate Notice

Some landlords fail to give their tenants adequate notice before conducting an inspection. Again, this can violate a tenant's privacy and lead to strained relationships between landlords and tenants.

Not Documenting Thoroughly

Another common mistake is failing to document inspections adequately. Without proper documentation, landlords may forget about maintenance issues identified during an inspection, which can lead to more significant problems in the future.

Taking notes is good, but taking photos is a better way to document inspections thoroughly.

Not Addressing Maintenance Issues Promptly

Finally, some landlords and property management companies fail to address maintenance issues promptly. This can lead to more significant problems and make tenants unhappy with their living conditions.

If you're doing the work to conduct routine inspections, make sure you have a plan and resources to quickly follow up with any repairs needed for issues discovered while at the property. 

Conduct Inspections to Deliver the Best Properties Charleston, SC, Offers

Regular property inspections are essential for maintaining a rental property, keeping residents happy, and improving returns. At Charleston Property Company, we conduct regular inspections to ensure that our clients' properties are well-maintained and that their tenants are happy in their rental homes. 

To learn more about our inspection and maintenance services, reach out to our team! You can also learn more about the best property managers in the area with our free guide, the "Top Ten Property Management Companies in Charleston, SC."