How Belong Inspections Reduce Vacancy and Prepare Your Home For New Residents

For millions of people across the US, renting isn’t a temporary measure. With housing affordability at some of the lowest levels ever, more people are looking for a home to love long-term. Your rental home.  

But a home in disrepair is not going to attract these kinds of long-term residents. It’s a little bit like the ‘broken window theory’ — disorder leads to more disorder. Rent out a home in poor condition and people are less likely to worry about keeping it in top shape. 

This is why Belong conducts a full home inspection of all new rental homes joining our network. We’ll make sure your home is safe, habitable and move-in ready for new, long-term residents. In this article we’ll get into more detail about what we’ll look for and how you can prepare your rental home for a pre-lease inspection. 

Why Belong inspects every rental home in our network

When it comes to placing residents in homes, Belong has a proud track record of attracting the best of the best for our homeowners. More than two-thirds (71%) of Belong residents renew their 1-year lease. This provides stable, guaranteed income for homeowners and a house that stays in great condition. 

A big part of our success is the standards we hold for homes in our network. Belong’s home standards ensure that your rental will attract reliable residents, the best price, and be loved quickly. It also provides assurances that rental homes in our network are safe, livable and don’t pose unnecessary liability risks for our homeowners. 

What Belong looks for in a pre-lease inspection

Even if your home has already been rented out before, we want to make sure it’s seen in the best possible light. Our pre-lease inspections will focus on two main areas: safety and resident experience. 

1. Safety and habitability in rental homes

Rental homes in the US have what’s known as an ‘implied warranty of habitability’. What this means is that as a homeowner, you need to ensure that your rental home meets basic living and safety standards — even if they’re not specified in a lease agreement. If your house becomes unsafe or unliveable and you don’t take action, your residents may have a legal right to stop paying rent, move out without notice, or even sue you. 

To set you on the right track from day one, Belong inspectors will make sure your rental home is safe, comfortable and ready for occupancy. Safety inspections will check for any signs of damage or deterioration of the home, including: 

• Structural integrity of the foundation, walls and roof 
• Plumbing, including leaks or other issues that could cause water damage or safety hazards
• Electrical system hazards, such as overloaded circuits, exposed wires, or outdated wiring.
• Heating and cooling
  
• Safety features such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers
• Age and condition of appliances
• Ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and potential mold growth
  
• Any signs of pests, such as rodents or insects
• Exterior areas of the rental home, including the yard, driveway, and sidewalks

2. Resident experience

Inspections also ensure that homes are welcoming to potential residents. We set standards for rental homes to encourage better pricing, less vacancy and attract dependable, long-term residents who want to call your place home. This means making sure the home is in good condition cosmetically and isn’t likely to turn away applicants. Items on this list will vary depending on your home, but broadly, inspectors will be looking at:

• The condition of the walls, checking for holes and damage, poor paint jobs
• Working light fixtures 
• Age and functionality of appliances and amenities
• Lawn care to avoid overgrown gardens and weeds
• Anything that could attract pests to the home

Inspectors can also make recommendations for simple, cost-effective improvements to maximize your rental income and ROI. 

How to prepare your rental home for a pre-lease inspection 

1. Empty the home of all personal belongings

Unfurnished homes invite long-term residents to make the space their own. It’s also difficult to assess a home that is being used as a storage site! We recommend removing all personal items such as furnishings, furniture, clothing, and construction materials to make the inspection process smoother. 

2. Make sure utilities remain connected

In order for our inspectors to complete tests throughout the home, utilities such as water, gas and electricity will need to be connected and running. If you’re moving out of the home, remember to leave utilities connected until a new resident has been found. 

3. Finish any construction or DIY projects on the home

Sometimes homeowners are in a hurry to lease their rental home and may want to list it before improvement projects are finished. Home inspections need to assess the current state of your home to ensure it’s move-in ready, so it’s best to start the process after improvements are completed. 

If your home is in desperate need of some TLC, be sure to let us know. Our extensive vendor network can arrange fast repairs to help attract the best possible price. 

4. Complete any cleaning or yard work

A deep clean of your home is an important step in getting move-in ready and up to Belong’s home standards. To prepare for an inspection (not to mention all-important marketing photos and home tours), make sure the home is spotless and yards are not overgrown. 

5. Provide a complete set of keys for the home

How many locks does your home really have? It’s important to get a full set of keys cut to provide to Belong either before or at the time of inspection. It’s easy to forget things that you don’t often use, such as window locks, a garden shed, or even a mailbox key — but your home inspector and new residents will need them. 

Never worry about your rental home again

Many homeowners hope to one day return to their homes again or make sure their beloved house is well cared for. With Belong PRO, you’ll never have to worry about bad residents, late rent, cost blowouts, or 2 am phone calls ever again. 

Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch Seattle Property Management, Redmond Property Management, Oakland Property Management, and more.