Move out Checklist - Repair Costs

[Jimmy Murray]

A pretty common question that I hear all the time is .. "How do you hold tenants accountable for damages during their stay?" 

Well, the answer is simple! A Condition Checklist which we supply tenants at move in.

Then the next question is, "How do you appropriately charge them?" Good news is we have an answer for that too. We use a move out checklist (similar to move in) but wear provide a list of charges with the Condition Checklist at move in. 

My question to BP is what charges do you include on your move out checklist? 

[Tyler Brown]

I wouldn't include any specific dollar amounts unless I'm 100% positive that's what it'll actually cost.  You're basically committing yourself to charging a fixed rate, so you better be really sure that rate is accurate.  

If it's something simple like a ripped window screen that I know is $10 at Home Depot and I can do it myself, then yeah okay maybe.  But if it something more vague like the shower is draining slowly (does it just need a bottle of Draino, or does my plumbing need to be taken apart?) or a stain the carpet (will it come out with a little stain remover, or do I have to replace the carpet?) there's no way I'm going to agree to a fixed price on the spot.  I'll document a description of the damage or issue, then withhold whatever the amount is later once I actually know myself.