When you own your own home, you know it comes with a lot of responsibility. Between cleaning and maintaining your appliances, keeping up with landscaping and taking care of other details like pest control and home insurance, cleaning is often an overlooked aspect of home ownership. However, if your home doesn’t look clean and tidy, you aren’t doing your tenants any favors. When prospective renters tour your home, they want to see that it’s in good condition and they’ll be comfortable living there. This means keeping up with cleaning your rental property and making sure it’s in good condition at all times. Keeping up with cleaning inspections will help ensure both yours and your tenants’ living spaces are tidy and clean. A cleaning inspection is a thorough review of your rental property, looking for things like dirty dishes, stray hairs, and stains on the rugs or walls. Depending on your rental agreement, you may be asked to clean the property before the prospective tenants move in. But if you’re renting out a property you own and have been cleaning it regularly, you may not need to do a cleaning inspection before accepting prospective tenants. If so, what are the duties of a cleaning inspection? Read on to learn more about what goes into a cleaning inspection and how you can make sure your rental property is ready for prospective tenants.
Review your cleaning checklist
Before beginning a cleaning inspection, be sure to review your cleaning checklist. If you don’t have a checklist, start small with a daily checklist that includes items like making the bed and removing the dishes from the dishwasher. Once you’ve established your daily cleaning routine, you can expand your checklist to include items like mopping the floor and dusting the ceilings. You may also want to consider updating your checklist with tips and tricks for cleaning specific spaces like the bathroom and bedrooms. If you have a specific checklist for your cleaning inspection, you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently check off each item. This will help you stay on schedule and make sure your home is as clean as it needs to be before prospective tenants move in.
Look for stains and splotches
Are there splotches of paint in the wrong color? Are there stains on the wall or carpets from an unexpected visitor? If so, make a note of the location and bring a bucket of water or a cleaner to remove the stain. If the stain is a deeper color, you can use a lighter cleaner to prevent the stain from spreading further. If you find splotches of paint, make sure it dries before moving forward with the cleaning inspection. If you find stains on the walls or carpets, you can use a cleaner to remove them. You can also clean the walls by using a steam cleaner or pressure washer. This is especially important if you have pets. You can clean the carpets and floors by either using a commercial cleaning solution or a homemade cleaner using baking soda and vinegar.
Check for dirt, dust, and debris
Are there piles of dirt and dust on the floor? Are there cobwebs in the corners? Are there stray hairs on the couch or rugs? You can use a broom, duster, or vacuum cleaner to clean these areas. You can also use a cleaning solution to clean the dirt and dust from the floor. If you have pets, be sure to clean the areas where they spend time. This can include the floors, rugs, furniture, and cabinets. You can also clean the walls using a steam cleaner or pressure washer. If you have a lot of hair, you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the hair.
Check for stains and scuffs on furniture and appliances
Are there stains or scuffs on your furniture? Are there scuffs on the rugs? Are there stains on the walls or cabinets? You can use a cleaner to clean the stains and scuffs. You can also clean the stains on the furniture and appliances by using a cleaner or a scrubbing brush. Remember to clean the stains and scuffs from the deepest part of the stain. If you have a lot of stains, sanding may be a good option. Be sure to clean the appliances and furniture regularly to prevent dirt and dust buildup. This will help your rental property look clean and tidy and ready for prospective tenants.
Have you forgotten anything?
Once you’re finished with the cleaning inspection, take a look at your checklist. If there’s something you missed, add it to your checklist. This will help you stay organized and make sure your rental property is as clean as it needs to be before prospective tenants move in. Once you’re done with the cleaning inspection and you’ve added everything to your checklist, you’re ready to move forward with the rental property and accept prospective tenants. Remember, prospective tenants want to see a clean rental property, so you should make sure your home is in good condition before they move in.