We just pulled off a small miracle this week. Our tenants moved out of their home on Tuesday, we had the home painted Wednesday, cleaned Thursday, carpets cleaned Friday, and new tenants moved in Saturday morning. Even for professional property management, that is a pretty tight turnover.
What should have been a very easy turnover was complicated by our ex-tenants use of anchor, or "molly" bolts.
While it was evident that the home they lived in was kept quite nice over the past 18 months, we did not know the damage that was hiding under every wall hanging. The walls of our 2400sf 4-bedroom home were studded with molly bolts, at least 3 on EVERY wall.
Molly bolts are typically used to mount heavy wall hangings (mirrors, etc.). Our tenants used them to hang calendars, 5x8 picture frames, you name it.
New paint is based on a 3-year lifespan, so we could only charge the ex-tenant for 50% of the touch-up paint cost. However, we maintain that any hole larger than a nail hole is treated as wall damage, and is therefore considered beyond normal wear and tear.
As we dug deeper into the move out condition, it was clear there were more hidden surprises in store. The ex tenants made off with all 6 smoke alarm batteries, the garage remote batteries, half the light bulbs, and a host of other items that would be easy to miss if we were not being so thorough.
Comprehensive inspections are vital at both move-in and upon vacancy, to insure that the Landlord's interests are protected, as well as to maintain a policy of honesty and fair dealing with the Tenants.
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