Important Things to Check for Apartment Inspections

It is very important that you thoroughly inspect your apartment for various things if you are moving into a new place or ending your lease. When you know exactly what to look for, you will be able to protect yourself more effectively from being charged by the landlord. Anyone who moves into a new place will need to conduct a full inspection to document the state of the apartment, and the same goes for leaving.

The Floors

Make sure that you take a close look at the floors in the apartment you move into. You will need to be certain that there are no missing pieces of the carpeting, and that it’s all clean. If you notice any areas where there isn’t carpeting when there should be, you must document it. Pay attention to any strange odors coming from the flooring as well. Don’t forget to take a close look at the flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms too.

Appliances

You should also check to see if all of the major appliances that come with the apartment are working properly. If there are any issues with the appliances, you will need to take note of this and call maintenance to fix them. Sometimes these problems can be quite subtle, so you will need to cast a critical eye on the apartment’s refrigerator, stove, and other major appliances. You don’t want to get blamed for an issue with one of these appliances that aren’t your fault.

The Walls

When looking at apartments, focus on the condition of the walls when performing your initial move-in inspection. The paint on the walls shouldn’t be chipped or damaged. If you notice any significant signs of damage, make sure to document them by writing down the nature of the imperfection and taking pictures. If you have wood panels for walls, make sure there aren’t any loose boards.

Windows

The windows in your new apartment will certainly be something else you should focus on when performing your inspection. There shouldn’t be any leaky or broken windows in your apartment. Make certain that all of the windows are properly sealed so that no air can get through. This is very important if you want to save as much money as possible on your energy bills while staying comfortable.

Fire Safety

It’s always a good idea to check your apartment to ensure that all smoke detectors are working correctly. A malfunctioning smoke detector could end up costing you your life in the event of a fire, which is why it’s so important that you check this.

It is incredibly important that you perform an initial inspection of your new apartment so that you can assess its overall condition. The last thing you want to do is move into a place fraught with problems right from the start.