Facilitating a smooth moving experience is the priority of every property manager. No parties involved in the process- landlord, property manager, or tenant- want disputes over property conditions or fees. Regularly scheduled inspections as tenants move in and out of rental properties in combination with property inspection technology prevent the miscommunications and ‘he said she said’ of a lease ending, because time stamped photos, videos, and notes from walk throughs can be instantly accessed at any point.
Conducting move in and move out inspections are crucial parts in the moving process and property ops sphere in general. They help property managers track apartment conditions and maintain amicable relationships with residents. Move in inspections document the condition of a unit when tenants first move in. Property managers can check the condition of the property, including living conditions and the state of appliances and other parts of the unit, so any damage or issues do not fall on the tenant if they are not responsible.
Similarly, move out inspections aim to note any changes to the unit and put it on record, and these records will be built up over time to paint a clear picture of the evolution of the apartment. These typically take place at the end of a lease, ideally at least a week before a tenant’s scheduled move out date. Any process has the potential to be complicated, especially when residents are involved. That said, preventing problems can be simplified by using technology to streamline your moves. Here are some common challenges during the moving experience, and how tech can help:
Potential Moving Problems & How Tech Can Eliminate Them
DISAGREEMENTS ON THE CONDITION OF THE APARTMENT
For every inspection, both for move ins and move outs, inspection technology enables you to add photos, videos, and notes as you go. When a tenant moves out and their final inspection is conducted, any disagreements about the original condition of the apartment and what damages they are responsible for can be easily resolved. With inspection technology, a visual representation of what the apartment looked like upon their arrival upon every step of the move in inspection.
TRACKING ISSUES OVER TIME
To the previous point, inspection technology gives you the power to track the condition of the unit over time. Not only is this valuable as tenants come and go, but it is also a tool for overseeing the longevity of appliances, tracking repairs or upgrades, spotting pest issues, or other problems that result in steep fees. This level of oversight helps you identify problems quickly and be proactive about getting ahead of them, so they do not persist and impact the moving experience in the future.
LEASE AGREEMENT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PARTIES
A miscommunication between a property manager and a renter? No problem. With technology, the lease agreement can be accessed at any time if any confusion over the terms of the lease agreement arises. You can even pull up leases or other documents onsite with any mobile device. There is no need for a disagreement of one person’s word against another, because a document signed by both parties can always be pulled up and reviewed. This is particularly helpful when common rental disputes like pet clauses, end of lease cleaning fees, and more arise.
INSPECTION CONDUCTED WITHOUT THE TENANT
Life gets busy, and not all residents may be able to attend move-inspections. If an individual is unable to attend any inspection for whatever reason, time-stamped inspection reports including pictures can be generated instantly and sent to all parties involved for their records and review.
Adopting inspection technology will make your life as a property manager much easier, while also easing the mind of building residents. Leveraging technology during the moving experience helps establish stronger relationships between property managers and tenants, builds thorough, instantly-accessible property records with no information gaps and photos to supplement notes, and allows property managers to monitor the condition of a unit over time. It’s a win-win for all parties involved.