How to prepare for rent inspections, by a Perth property manager who’s seen it all (and can’t unsee it)

In today’s fiercely competitive property market, securing a good rental is no mean feat. And as a landlord, finding a good tenant to look after that rental for you is also a rare and beautiful thing.

If you’ve lived in a rental, you’ll also know that rental inspections are part of the package. Landlords need to give you between seven and 14 days’ notice in WA, and inspections can only be carried out a maximum of four times a year.

But when you think about routine property inspections, you probably imagine a quick walk-through, some note-taking, maybe checking a few things off a list. Simple, right? Well, not quite.

Ashleigh Goodchild has been managing rental property since 1999.

For property managers, “routine” is a bit of a stretch when tenants are walking around naked, you’re inspecting the wrong house, or worse … falling into a six-foot pit in your best suit.

So, to help make the process a little less risque and a bit more routine, here are my top tips for tenants to get themselves inspection ready:

Dress for the occasion

In fact, just be dressed, full stop. As a property manager there’s nothing like walking into what you think will be a professional inspection, only to find the tenant casually strolling around in their birthday suit.

It does happen, and when it does, we just roll with it (while desperately trying to maintain eye contact and professionalism).

Set your alarm

Perhaps I’ve jumped the gun with getting dressed. Let’s start with getting out of bed. A few weeks ago, I walked into a Como apartment, calling and knocking, but there was no answer. When I stepped inside, I was confronted with a sleeping body in the bedroom.

Nothing screams awkward like conducting an inspection while a tenant is still snuggled up in bed, sometimes with their partner. It happens more often than you’d think. Blurry-eyed but unfazed, they wave us in, and we tiptoe through the house, avoiding eye contact, all while they’ve gone back to bed. At least no one’s naked this time!

Tidy up, fill in the pit

It’s always polite to give the house a little freshen up. You know, wash and put away dishes. Hang up bath towels. Fill in the six-foot pit in the garage after turning the house into a drug den. The usual. It’s not just good manners, it’s a health and safety issue. A colleague of mine recently broke her arm tumbling into a drainage pit in a Rivervale carport that had been repurposed into a cannabis grow room.

Don’t forget the garden

If your rental has a backyard, small garden or even a balcony, giving the outdoor areas a quick spruce up, can help with the overall appearance of the property being well cared for. Mowing the lawn, wiping down outdoor furniture or just sweeping the space, can make a big difference.

Double check you’re expecting an inspection

Property managers are human and can sometimes get mixed up. So, when a property manager knocks on your door and you aren’t expecting it, just mention it. I was greeted by a teenager at another Como property who let me in for the inspection. I left my card and was later called by the teen’s mother to let me know she actually owns the place. Turns out I was at meant to be at 178a, not 178. Hey, we’re all human.

Lock your doors

Good advice for life really. I was at a South Perth house for an inspection when the man inside told me he wasn’t ready and to come back in half an hour. I went away and received a call from my office to say our tenant had been broken into. Turns out I was speaking with a very quick-thinking burglar!

But locking up can also keep out wayward property managers. Like one I knew who accidentally inspected the next-door neighbour’s house. When the key wouldn’t work in the front door they entered through the unlocked garage. They completed the inspection and left their card on the kitchen bench. Only to get a call later from the perplexed homeowner.

As a property manager who has been around the apartment block a few times, I hope these tips help you pass your next rental inspection with flying colours.

And while some might seem like plain old common sense, I’ve learnt through my job that common sense just isn’t a flower that grows in everyone’s garden.

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