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Apartment inspections are an essential part of the rental process. When a tenant moves out or moves in, an inspection is always part of the process. As a tenant, you're likely quite busy during this time as you're dealing with the logistics of moving your possessions.
When planning for this stressful period, it helps to know what to expect from the process. So, how long do apartment inspections take, and how does the process work? This article tells you everything you need to know about apartment inspection duration.
How Long Do Apartment Inspections Take?
There are various types of inspection, and some are more straightforward and short, whereas some are more complex and lengthy. Here are some of the most common types of inspection:
- Move-in Inspections: When you first move in, you'll do a walkthrough of the place and record the condition of the apartment. This ensures there's no disagreement about damages when you move out. Typically, this takes around 30 to 60 minutes.
- Move-Out Inspections: When you move out, the landlord checks the apartment and compares the current condition to what they observed during the move-in. This tends to be more detailed and can take up to 1.5 hours.
- Routine Inspections: If you're a long-term renter, the landlord will occasionally stop by to ensure you're looking after the place. Expect this to take between 20 and 45 minutes.
- Safety Inspections: Landlords are responsible for maintaining a safe environment, they'll do this by inspecting safety features like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Expect this to take 15-30 minutes.
Factors Affecting the Time for Apartment Inspection
One of the main factors affecting how long it takes to work through the apartment inspection checklist is the size of the place. Naturally, the bigger the space, the longer it takes to check. A studio apartment will take the least amount of time, typically around 30 minutes, whereas a unit with three bedrooms could take over an hour.
The condition of the place might also draw out the apartment inspection process, particularly during a move-out inspection. If the property has a lot of damage caused during your tenancy, you can expect the process to take longer. All damage needs to be inspected and documented, so if you've had a few parties that got out of hand, you could be there for a few hours.
Also, bear in mind that a fully furnished apartment may take longer to inspect. You're responsible for any damage to the furniture, so this could easily add 30 minutes to an hour to the process.
Professionals are More Efficient
So, how long do apartment inspections take? Generally, they take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. The type of inspection and size of the apartment can have a significant impact on the duration. Another important factor is the experience of the inspector.
A professional property management company does countless inspections, and they're usually much more efficient than a landlord. Laureate LTD has provided tenants and landlords with a seamless and stress-free rental experience since 1982.
If you're a landlord who wants comprehensive yet efficient inspections, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can make your life easier.
