What Does the Exterior Portion of the Visit Entail?
We tend to spend more time outside since privacy isn't in play, and rotten wood, roof issues, and pest issues are some of our biggest concerns.
The most important point is that we specifically inspect windows and door frames for water intrusion, so close blinds before we arrive.
When possible we knock and meet with you before doing our exterior report, but it's possible you might miss the knock / bell and should be prepared to see someone poking around outside around the scheduled time.
We spend a lot of effort on the exterior portion of the home visit. Water intrusion, wood rot, erosion, and pest access can all get very costly fast, and that stresses owners out which is bad for us both.
This also allows us to report an interior report which is usually glowing, alongside an exterior report that almost always shows a consistent decline in condition because the outdoors are hard on materials.
The idea here is to juxtapose how great their resident is maintaining the interior, while the exterior which is well outside their control (usually and for the most part) marches toward inevitable costs.
Of course, there are interior costs but they are usually minor and a lot less likely to stress owners out when provided with the perspective that things degrade with time, and that is part of being a rental investor.
Since privacy is rarely a concern around the yard, we are more likely to poke around and linger. If there's a concern with that please let us know in advance. Please be aware though that they will be walking by first-floor windows and inspecting them for water intrusion.
As with the interior of the home, pets must be safely crated if outdoors as well.