Owning rental properties offers a way to earn money, whether you own a few or 8,000 properties like some of the more prominent companies in Kansas City.
To earn money, you must follow key rules. One is to keep the units occupied all the time. Another is to keep the units in great condition.
How can you do this? One option is to perform routine rental property inspections. But how often should you perform these?
We'll discuss the answer in this article, so continue reading to learn more.
Abide by Kansas Landlord-Tenant Laws
You can inspect vacant units anytime, as you won't have to worry about violating a tenant's rights. However, you must abide by landlord-tenant laws if entering an occupied unit.
Landlords have several responsibilities and rights when entering an occupied unit. First, you must provide a 24-hour notice before entering a unit. Always inform the tenant that you're entering and explain the purpose.
Secondly, you have the right to skip giving the notice if you must enter for emergencies. A general property maintenance inspection is not an emergency, so you must notify the tenant about your intent.
Recommended Inspection Frequency
Inspecting your rental properties gives you insight into their conditions and the work each one needs. You can complete these yourself or hire a property management firm to handle the inspections.
In either case, set a schedule for the frequency of rental inspections. Here are some suggestions:
Move-In and Move-Out Inspections
At a minimum, you should inspect each property when someone moves in or out. These inspections serve dual functions.
First, they provide the opportunity to record a unit's condition when someone moves in. Secondly, they reveal the work a unit needs when someone moves out.
Several Times Each Year
You should set up a frequency schedule that includes multiple inspections each year. You can conduct these quarterly or semi-annually. At a minimum, conduct a complete inspection at least once a year.
Keeping up with the maintenance will help you make more money with your properties. You can charge more for well-maintained properties, and your tenants might stay longer if you take great care of the units.
Emergencies
Also, perform an inspection every time you receive an emergency report. These may come from tenants for their own units or from neighboring apartments.
Inspection Checklist and Process
Use a checklist when performing routine inspections. This ensures you inspect every area of the unit for a more comprehensive review of the property.
You can create your checklist or hire a property manager. They'll already have an effective one.
Improve Your Property Conditions With Rental Property Inspections
Take control of your property conditions by performing routine rental property inspections. These inspections help you stay on top of the work the units need, and they improve your tenant satisfaction.
You can always hire a property manager to handle these. Property management firms can also help with other rental property services.
PMI Station serves the KC Metro area and surrounding areas in Kansas and Missouri. We provide management services for residential and commercial properties and can help you improve your rental property business.
Reach out today to learn more.
