Inspection with PM

Hi all,

My property manager contacted me recently and has advised me that they'll be conducting an inspection of my IP in the next week or two. They've asked me if I wish to attend the inspection as well. Is there a 'norm' for inspections? I'm just curious on whether the landlord normally attends inspections or whether the general consensus is to rely on the property manager to provide feedback. While I personally don't mind attending, I'm not sure if the tenant is usually comfortable with this?

Cheers

 

Not usually a norm, i think I've had 3 owners attend. Can be a good idea if you're considering upgrades in the future to get an idea of what might be needed.

Some owners have never ever seen their properties in person and are happy to rely on the photos sent.

 

• If you are available, do it
• If you've had any maintenance done and want to see it, do it
• If you've ever had an issue, do it
• If you're just curious, do it
• If you will get better service from your PM by having a one on one meeting, do it - it's a business relationship thing.

 

You have the right to attend with the pm it's up to you if you want too.
I didn't for 3 years and the pics the real-estate agent sent me didnt show how dirty the walls were, and wholes in the walls and I think intentionally missed things so they didn't have to act.

Oy way to make sure things get followed up on and see the real condition of your investment is to look your self.
Dont trust anyone to be as vigilant as you. Remember it's your money tied up so to make sure it's looked after correctly look your self

 

I would ,it gives you the time to check everything ,locks -hws -taps -gutters-and any hidden damage that may have happened recently..But also look at it this way,the Tenant will know who you are when you turn up..

 

I think it's very nice for your PM to invite you, we do the same with our Owners but only one took up the offer.

As an Investor ourselves, we think inspecting with your PM is a good idea. Cant think of any Cons apart from do not focus on the cleanliness, tidyness or messyness of the Property unless it impacts on maintenance. Personally I will not not attend if the Tenants will be home at the same time but if you dont mind confronted by the Tenants, just go ahead.

It is a good opportunity to have a good look of your property after your last visit, gain in insight as to what repair and upgrade is required, both for long and short term, inside and outside, get to know the area and the market better.... If it is a Complex, have a look around the common area and the recent changes....

 

We always inspected our IPs every 12-18 months. Arranged to go through with the PM on a scheduled inspection.

Didn’t bother us if tenants were there or not.

It gave us a chance to have a good look around, check for any looming maintenance issues, plus chat to the PM about the tenant and how things were going generally.
Marg

 

For a lot of possible maintenance issues , it also gives you the opportunity to take lots of pictures of items like cooktops/stoves and hot water water systems etc etc, its really the nameplates and general size/capacity and dimensions of many items that your after.
If anything ever needs to be replaced you pretty well know whats there already.
It also helps to determine the age , as a general rule if its older than 10 years ,I dont even bother trying to repair it.

 

We attend if time etc allows, sometimes the PMs do not like this as they then have to do some work, I say always keep a finger on the pulse....even if the PM does not like it........

 

How creepy......do your ingoings before tenant moves in, I am pretty confrontational and open, but I am not an ass walking around taking photos in my tenants home.....the PM can do that if there is issues.....no need to do stocktake if you know the score before they arrive !

 

You actually dont take pictures of their personel things , re-read the post.
I am often amazed about investors that actually have no idea about the age , model numbers, size and type of HWS and or ovens/ cooktops in their properties .
I assume most of these have used buyers agents and never really inspected these properties and dont keep their "finger on the pulse".
A picture from a metre away wont tell you much about the size and capacity and model no of items like ovens ,you need a picture of the actual small name plate(similiar to a vin plate on a car) found on all ovens and hws , if you ever need a part or replacement unit. You dont get hookwinked by tradies trying to put in bigger units($$$$$) for no reason and you can deal straight with tradies ,as you know straight up what has to go in.
Or wasting lots of time trying to second guess the PM or tradie or tenant about the offending item.
and then complaining later that you were charged excessively for repairs or new units.

 

Yeah, I understand why, just do it before they are in there.....then you can look during other vacancy or outgoing, besides that, it takes so long to do properly.

 

Last year when an IP was vacant, we replaced the worn old carpet and did a couple of other things to upgrade the house. We will sell it in a few more years and I didnt want to waste money buying nasty cheap carpet only to have to replace it again in five years time if we sell. (we are retirement age) My new tenant has a dog and i was terrified about what the dog might do to my carpet, I attended the first inspection of the new tenant. Of course everything was in immaculate condition, so now I know I wont have any worries and I can trust the PM completely. Maybe if we owned a dump I would not care so much.

 

My PMS always ask every inspection of we want to attend.

We do rarely.

 

Mine never asks. They never even tell me when the next one is, I just get the report (which is of very average quality).

 

Poor agent in my opinion

 

Its pretty rare that people want to attend - you could ask to be included on the next one.

 

They do not all tell you prior, but should do so if you have indicated you would like to attend, we attend were practical and is on a scale of importance that includes last time we looked along with how long tenant has been in or to monitor certain probs with the IP....

You have to have the time, but on other hand ignorance in total could be a prob for owner/s.

 

Thanks all - I attended the inspection and it all went well!

 

Good.

Now change that user name.