Regular property inspections are an essential part of community management. They evaluate the private homes in a homeowner’s association (HOA) to ensure the community’s guidelines, rules, and standards are being met. Property inspections can also apply to a community’s common areas.
Community organizations exist to maintain a community's property values. Therefore, ensuring the property is well-maintained and attractive is a crucial part of the organization’s mission.
Keep reading to learn more about the importance of regular property inspections and how to conduct them fairly and efficiently in your community.
The Importance of Regular Property Inspections
Consistent property inspections can be a major boon for your community. They provide a number of benefits, including the following.
Preservation of property values: Keeping the property and common areas attractive will help make the community desirable, which will stabilize property values.
Early detection of maintenance issues, especially in common areas: Regular inspections allow you to detect maintenance issues that, if left unaddressed, could become costly problems.
Enhancing safety and risk management: Property inspections help identify potential safety hazards (such as uneven sidewalks, faulty playground equipment, or overgrown vegetation that could pose fire risks), resulting in a safer community overall.
Promoting accountability: Residents will feel accountable if they know that their homes will be inspected regularly. Thus, they will be more likely to adhere to the community’s guidelines, be engaged in the community, and report any issues promptly.
How to Conduct a Property Inspection
To reap the benefits of regular property inspections, you need to conduct them properly. That process will involve the following steps.
Inform residents of any upcoming inspections. You should complete this task across multiple mediums so the entire community has access to the information. Make sure to tell your residents the purpose of the inspection, the schedule, and what areas you will be inspecting.
Begin with the exterior of the private homes. Check the condition of the roof, gutters, siding, windows, doors, and paint. Then, inspect the landscaping and look for any unauthorized modifications or structures.
Then, inspect all common areas and amenities. Check parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, clubhouses, and similar areas for cleanliness, functionality, and safety hazards.
Throughout your inspection, take detailed notes and photographs. This evidence could be useful to solve any conflicts and track the community’s condition over time.
Review your findings with the Board. Prioritize any needed repairs or maintenance tasks.
Communicate with residents. Notify homeowners of any violations or issues identified during the inspection. Provide a clear explanation and a reasonable timeline for correcting these issues.
And that’s it; your property inspection is complete. For more information about how to conduct an efficient property inspection or for help organizing regular inspections, you should contact a good community property management company. In the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, that company should be CPM.
Let our team help you with regular property inspections and more. Contact us today!