A lot of you will be moving into your new place in the next few days and some of you may have already moved in. We can’t stress the importance of doing a move-in inspection because any damages that are identified when you move out, may prevent you from getting your damage deposit back or could lead to a bad referral. If you can hire someone to do a professional inspection, then we think you should. However, if this is not an option for you, we’ve compiled a short list of the top ten items we think you should inspect.
The kitchen and household appliances
When you move into an apartment, it will most likely have kitchen appliances such as a stove, fridge or a dishwasher, and some units will even have a dishwasher or a drier. Make sure you check if these are working as early as possible since maintenance and repairs for these items can be expensive.
Windows
If your apartment has a broken window, you should say something right away. However, some windows, balcony doors or screens may not be equipped to handle winter conditions. This means you can end up with a cold apartment, frost on your windows or frozen pipes in the most extreme circumstances. This may be a tough one to identify until it starts to get cold outside, but make sure you ask your landlord if they are draft/winter proofed.
If your unit has carpet flooring, make sure to check if there are any stains or tears. These may be hard to see at first if the unit comes with furniture, since the furniture may conceal stains or tears, so take the time to make sure it’s not damaged.
Faucets and taps
If you notice a leaky or defective faucet or tap, say something immediately. We heard of a situation where a tenant had a bathtub tap that had worn out threads, and once she tried to stop filling the tub, she couldn’t turn off the tap. There was significant damage to the floors, and they needed to be repaired and replaced. This is probably a worst-case scenario, but it’s still a cautionary tale. If you notice odd noises coming from the walls from time to time or when you are using a specific faucet, this could be a sign of plumbing issues. If this happens, let your landlord know immediately.
Wall sockets
When you move in, make sure you check if all sockets and switches work. If they don’t, this could require a minor repair, but in some cases, it may be a sign of an even larger problem. Also take the time to figure out where the circuit breaker is in the unit.
Walls and Doors
Once again, if there is a hole in the wall or a door missing, say something. But in all seriousness, take the time to see if there are any cracks in the walls or any structural flaws in the walls, doors and cupboards. People sometimes put holes in the walls so they can hang pictures and portraits. If you see any, make sure you point these out to your landlord.
Ventilation and odd smells
As odd as this may sound, sometimes your nose will tell you if something is wrong. One of the first ways we detect mold is the smell of mold. If you walk into a unit and it has an odd smell, this could be a sign that something is rotting or deteriorating, or it could just mean the unit is not well ventilated. Either way, make sure you report it and figure out what’s wrong.
Depending on your lease terms, you may or may not be responsible for paying some utility bills such as gas, electricity or water. If you are, you want to record the meter readings on the day you move in since this will determine how much you are expected to pay when the bills are due.
Take pictures
If worst comes to worst, a picture is worth a thousand words and could save you a thousand dollars. If you notice something is wrong, take a picture of it, that way you have visual evidence and a date associated with the damage. So, if you ever are held responsible for it, you can prove that the problem existed before you moved in
Understand who’s responsible for damages and maintenance
Finally, make sure you understand your lease and who is responsible for what. If you live in a building with multiple units or in a condo, the building manager or the condominium board may be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of various items. It’s important to understand this so you know who to talk to if there is a problem. In some cases, these parties will only deal directly with the owner of the unit and not the tenant, so if that’s the case, make sure you and your landlord have a clear understanding on how problems will be communicated and resolved.