Moving into a new apartment? Ending your current lease and checking out of one? You need to make a thoroughly documented inspection of the entire unit. You might be eager to get unpacked and start decorating the new place, but this is really important.
When you move into a new place and things aren't in proper order, your landlord is responsible for fixing them. If the landlord isn't aware of these problems when you move in, they could burden you with the price of repairs. It's probably best to get the landlord to fix these issues before you even sign your lease.
What is the apartment inspection?
An apartment inspection is simply a visual examination of a house's overall condition. It is advisable that you first shortlist a few properties suiting your budget and other preferences and subsequently start physically inspecting each one of them. Ideally, you should be inspecting every little physical aspect of the house you intend to buy, especially if you are buying a resale property. When going on apartment inspection visits, it is important to be mindful and thorough. Apartments that are primed and ready for move-in could be hiding little imperfections that you might not easily notice if you don’t actually inspect for them. Some tips for apartment inspection for your potential apartments:
- Look for old or outdated appliances, water damage around the windows, strange smells, and stains on the carpet. If you find any of these, but are in love with the apartment regardless, be sure to carefully document it on your walk-in inspection. Take pictures so you don’t get charged for these things when you eventually move out.
- Listen hard. Are you able to hear your neighbors? Can they hear from you? If the walls are paper-thin, you might want to consider a different place, especially if you plan to study or work at home.
- Check the apartment security. A ground floor apartment can come with easy window access for break-ins. Check if the neighborhood is safe enough to feel comfortable on the ground floor.
- Consider the many stairs that could become a tedious nightmare during moving-in and moving-out, and when making heavy grocery trips.
- Inquire about amenities like laundry services and gyms which can save you a lot of time and money in the long run, if these things fit into your lifestyle.
An important way to document the condition of the apartment before moving in is to take photos or videos of any issues. This will give clear evidence of pre-existing problems and allow you to compare the pre-existing condition with its condition when you move out. You should take two sets of photos, providing your landlord with one set, which is to be signed and dated making it hard for the landlord to challenge you about the description of any problem with the apartment. Relatively minor and non-essential repairs or improvements are more discretionary. They depend on your ability to persuade the landlord. However, make sure that you document any agreements.
