What a strange question, right? How to use your inventory? But it’s not all that strange when you think about it, and that’s exactly what this post will be about. The issue is that most landlords (and tenants) don’t use their property inventory in the right way. They book it and look through it (an excellent start) and then don’t think about it again until after the tenant has moved out.
What landlords (and tenants) really should be doing is looking at that report and any interim reports (also known as mid-term inspections) when the tenant gives their notice to leave the property. Leaving it until after they have gone might be too late. Let’s look into this in more detail.
How To Use Your Inventory As A Reminder
When you think about how to use your inventory, the first thing to consider is that it can be a perfect reminder of the condition the property was in at the start of the tenancy. By reading through it, and by encouraging your tenants to do the same, you’ll get a better idea of what to expect when they leave.
In fact, gently reminding the tenants that they need to leave the property in the same way they were given it, and that all the information they need to enable them to do that is in the property inventory is a good idea. Remind them of this, and also remind them that their deposit relies on them getting this right. The inventory will be the ideal roadmap to help them put things back how they found them, leading to fewer instances where a dispute has to be raised.
How To Use Your Inventory As A Predictor
Another good use for your inventory is to give you an idea of what to expect when the tenant leaves. Although the original inventory won’t necessarily help here, the interim reports will. They will show you how well the tenant is taking care of the property, and you’ll have a prior understanding of what state the property will be in when they leave. If they haven’t taken care of things during the tenancy, it is likely they won’t take too much care when they leave either. However, if the interim inspections have shown they’ve been looking after the place, you probably don’t have too much to worry about (this is not guaranteed, of course, but it’s a good rule of thumb).
Once they have left, no matter what the property is like, you can compare the check-out report to the original inventory and immediately see if there are any issues. This means there will be no delays in any action needs to be taken – remember, if you do nothing, the tenants have a right to their deposit back within 10 days of vacating the property, so if you want to make a claim, you need to do it asap.
Want To Know How To Use Your Inventory? Contact Looksy Inventories Today
At Looksy Inventories, we are experts when it comes to property inventory reports, check-ins, check-outs, and mid-term inspections. We can handle every report you need, and we’ll do it in an unbiased, efficient, professional way. Simply get in touch with us today to book your inventory or to ask questions; we’ll be happy to answer them.