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Make the Most of Your Pre-Move-in Walkthrough

Christiansburg Woman with a Move-In Inspection ChecklistMoving into a new Christiansburg rental house can be an exciting time. But, definitely, it is also the best time to do one of the most important things you can do to protect your security deposit: a pre-move-in walkthrough inspection. Despite the fact that some landlords will provide you with a list of things to observe in the surrounding area of your rental home before you move in, others may not. Even if they don’t require it, you should still perform a walkthrough inspection on your own. If you do wish to get the most of your pre-move-in walkthrough, it’s significant to keep a few key practices in mind.

Get Personal

Definitely, nothing can ever replace an in-person walkthrough. A thoughtful and helpful landlord may say that they have inspected the property for you, but you still need to check everything yourself. Though most landlords aren’t deliberately trying to trick you, you still may be able to find maintenance or other issues that got left out of the report. If you don’t check each part of your rental property carefully, you would wind up paying for repairing something that was broken before you moved in.

Use a Checklist

Making the best of your pre-move-in walkthrough insinuates inspecting each part of your rental home carefully. To really make sure that you haven’t forgotten anything, use a checklist. Some landlords will provide a checklist for you; others may not. If yours doesn’t, there are plenty of checklists and guides you possibly could download online. Using a checklist is relevant because it will secure your walkthrough directed and focused, and will help make sure you don’t leave out anything. Plus, you can use your checklist for comparison after you move out.

Document Everything

A checklist is an important first step in documenting your walkthrough. But, actually, making the most of your pre-move-in inspection means more than just checking off things. To fully protect your security deposit from undeserved repair charges, you need to carefully and thoroughly document each aspect of the property’s condition before you move in. Make several notes, either on the checklist itself or on a separate page. It can very well help you take note of condition issues, locations, and so on, no matter how small.

Plenty of landlords won’t try to charge you to replace an entire kitchen floor for one damaged spot in the linoleum, but some might. Another easy yet effective way is to take pictures of the property as you go over it. See to it also to take several close-ups and wider shots, and to keep your photos in a safe place.

Report Maintenance Issues

When you’ve done your walkthrough and documentation, ensure to report any maintenance issues you discovered swiftly. Broken toilet seats or blinds, leaky faucets, and non-functioning light switches or outlets may seem like no big deal, but if things are broken or not working before you move in, you need to tell your landlord about them immediately. If indeed possible, send your landlord something in writing to ensure that you have proof of the indicated issues. This will not only protect you from unjust accusations but will also protect your security deposit when you transfer residences.

Taking advantage of your pre-move-in walkthrough does take a few additional efforts. But it’s worth it. Nothing can ensure that you get all of your security deposit back more than doing every little thing you can to document your rental home’s pre-move-in condition thoroughly.

Are you looking for a new home? Real Property Management Insight has the one for you! You can browse our listings online or call us at 540-998-6917 for more needed information.

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