How to inspect a potential rental to live in

It’s that time, time to go out and start looking for your own place! You could be 18 or you could be 37 (but hopefully not). Whatever the age, you should know what to look for when inspecting. Don’t walk into a new place and just presume that everything was taken care of from the previous tenants. A lot of property managers don’t really know what to look for themselves.

They simply look for the beauty, and shock-n-aw aspect. Also, don’t just blame the maintenance personnel, the could very well be the only one who takes care of 300+ units, and constantly pulled from one project to another to another, and 3 weeks down the road, are bitched at for not having the initial apartment done….

So, read along and allow me to help you in what you should be looking for when walking through any prospective rental.

Light Bulbs- Pretty common, but it’s amazing how many people over look this. After you take possession, you will more than likely be responsible for replacing your own light bulbs. Unless you opted to live in some type of community (apartments, duplex, town house, etc.). If you switch on every light though upon your initial walkthrough and notice a flicker or some dim lights, you can address this and have them replace it/them.

Water Faucets- The should have very little, if any, play in them (the handles). There should definitely be no drips or trickling water either. The easiest way to check this is to turn the handles, then turn the cold water on, wait a few seconds, then turn it back off. If there is a drip, depending on what type of faucet it is, the cartridge may need to be replaced (if there are two handles. A hot and cold.)

Now do the same with the hot water. If it is a single handle what you rotate to get hot of cold, all you need to do it turn it on. If it is dripping when you turn it off, the mixing valve needs to be replaced.

Shower Heads- These should be free of any lime build up, the white crusty stuff that forms around any water delivery source. Typically the heads have multiple settings, depending on the model, anywhere from three to seven. If it is difficult to turn, ask them to clean or replace it. Also, turn the shower on and ensure there is no water spitting out from collar (where the shower head attaches to the neck).

Toilet Flush and fill valves- These are also overlooked. Enter every bathroom and simply flush the toilet. It should only take about 15-20 seconds to fill up, and once it is full, the water should completely stop.

Sometimes you won’t be able to hear it, but if you look into the bowl, you will be able to see if water is still trickling down. After you no longer hear the water, look in the bowl and allow 5 or so seconds, there should no longer be water trickling into the bowl.

Breakers- Now this may sound scary, but it really isn’t. Ask to see the breaker box and open up the front panel. The only thing you have to do here is make sure there are no are no orange or red colors in the little windows. If everything is black, everything is alright.

GFIs- If you don’t know, these are outlets that are meant to trip if there is an overload or water in the outlet. These help the load on the breakers, and make sure nothing is damaged. These will be outlets that SHOULD be near any water source, in the bathroom, and outside.

There will look like regular outlets but have two buttons on them in the middle of the two outlets and there should be a light someone on it (it will be small). When it is in good health and no tripped it will be green. If it is tripped or something is wrong it will be red. If there is no light, I would suggest you have the maintenance person look at it and ensure they nor anyone else tampered with it and by-passed the wires. Here is a link to an amazing little tool that is inexpensive and can save you a huge amount in the future. It’s a simple Outlet Tester.

Behind the oven- This one can be a little difficult, but if it is TOO difficult, then you can pretty much guarantee that it is dirty underneath and behind it. Also, be sure to ask if it is gas or electric before you just go and start pulling on it. Gas ovens have a lot less slack in their gas lines to just be moving it around too much. You can also tell if it is gas a couple different ways, there will be holes in the burner, there will be a piece of cast iron around all the burners to allow room between the cooking surface and flames, and the face of the knobs will typically have a flame on the first position indicating the “pilot” position.

Ceilings- While you are walking through, looking at every room, don’t forget to look up. Check the ceiling for brownish or yellow spots, big and small. Look for bubbling and paint/plaster starting to sage of chip.

Finally, look for cracking. Among all of these, cracking the is least serious, as it could just be whoever mud and tapped the ceiling, didn’t do such a hot job. If you see extensive spots, (if they tried to paint over them, the spots wont be yellow or brown, but they will be the cleanest and shiniest spots on the ceiling) then you should ask question about what happened, if leaks were fixed, and get it in writing. Otherwise, just cut and run.

Roof and fencing- Depending on the property you decide to go with, fencing could be available. Ensure there are no broken pickets, cut chain-link, or sections on the fence leaning over. Upon walking up to the house, you should look up at the roof from the front just to make sure no shingles are missing, and none look newer than the rest. If they do, this is an indication to pay more attention to the ceilings as you walk through. When looking at the back, make sure to do the same thing. Look up at the roof, looking for the same indicators.

          Be sure to not get “razzle-dazzled” by any incentives that they offer. If the deal seems to good to be true, it is! This is true in any aspect. Also, don’t be afraid to go around and talk to your potential new neighbors and introduce yourself, ask about previous tenants, the community or neighborhood, this may seem strange but remember you are about to join area and it would be best to get a feel for as much as you can.

Even if you are a recluse, no one wants to live in a house where the neighbors party all hours of the night, or that constantly have police lights flashing and lighting up the whole neighborhood. Something to also consider, utilities, internet providers and service, parking, trash schedules, any unwritten laws or rules, commute times, schools, fast food, and any other creature comforts you may desire.

          I hope this was helpful. To a lot of you, these things I HOPE are nothing new. Or perhaps you read something you didn’t think of before. My hope though, is to educate a lot of you younger people and help you become a little more self-reliant. If there is something else you would like to know, or have questions on or need suggestions, go ahead and reach out through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, of my email through here.