7 Things Salt Lake City Landlords Always Look for in a Rental Property Inspection

Rental inspections are a valuable way to document the condition of your property and make sure there isn’t any deferred or unreported maintenance that needs your attention. We recommend that you inspect with a checklist and that you take a lot of pictures that you can refer to later if necessary. That checklist will start with these six things, which are crucial parts of any Salt Lake City rental property inspection.

1. Safety and Habitability Issues

First, check for any safety issues that may be present at your rental property. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be in place and working. Make sure there are fire extinguishers and look for any potential hazards such as loose handrails, uneven steps, or faulty ceiling fans.

2. Leaks and Water Problems

Water can do more damage to a property than anything else. When you’re inspecting the home, look under every sink. Make sure there isn’t any moisture or leaking. If a slow leak is left undetected, it can become a large plumbing problem. Then, you’ll have rot and possibly mold to contend with. Check each faucet, every sink, and all the tubs and toilets. Turn on the appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines to make sure there isn’t any runaway water. Check out exterior irrigation as well. Look at the gutters for debris and branches that may be allowing moisture into the home. Trim back any tree limbs and make sure your sprinklers are functional and not leaking. You’ll want to inspect the foundation of your home periodically as well.

3. Inspect Your Electrical Systems

Test every outlet to make sure it’s working and safe. Turn on all the lights and look for any problems when the appliances are running. It’s easy for a fire to start because of a wiring issue or an electrical problem that you didn’t know you had, so making this a part of your routine inspection checklist will help you keep your property safe.

4. Look at Your HVAC System

The heating and cooling system is probably one of the most expensive parts of your rental property. You want to keep it in good condition and working well. Turn on the furnace and the air conditioning. Change the air filters and make sure there isn’t any rust or debris that’s potentially clogging your cooling unit. If you don’t already have a professional HVAC technician checking your unit annually, consider a preventative plan. This will increase the lifespan of your heating and cooling unit, and prevent any expensive surprise repairs.

5. Roofs and Exterior Issues

Make sure the roof is safe and without any holes, pests, and debris. Make a note to trim back any trees that may be dropping leaves and sticks. Take a look around the exterior of your property as well. You want to make sure that the lighting is good and there aren’t any safety issues outside. If you’re renting a multi-family property, make sure the driveway or parking areas are in good shape as well as any common spaces.

6. Lease Violations

landlord talking to tenant while inspecting the property is occupied gives you the opportunity to talk to your tenants and make sure everything is okay. You can also scan the place for any potential lease violations. Unapproved pets or residents, for example, might show up during an inspection. Address these concerns with your tenant in writing.

7. Seasonal Planning

Make sure you’re planning for the upcoming season. Whether it be spring when you’ll need to inspect the sprinkler system and swamp coolers, or the fall when you’ll need to make sure those swamp coolers are covered, the sprinklers are blown out, and/or the compressor breaker is tripped. These are just a few items you need to address to avoid future problems – and late-night emergencies.   We can help you conduct rental inspections at your Salt Lake City investment property. If you’d like to hear more about our services and the inspections we conduct every 3 months on our rental properties, please contact us at Tier One Real Estate.