If you are a property owner or a letting agent, then you may be interested in using the property inventory services of a specialized company. These companies don’t just offer a property survey and property inventories that landlords and leasing agents use as part of their written contract with their tenant. They may also be involved in all stages of the tenancy, from tenants moving out to the premises’ final vacation and other stages in between. Property inventory companies can serve as a liaison between the different parties to the rental agreement at each stage of the lease cycle and be an important mediator between the tenant and the landlord at the end of the lease when the parties must agree to financial compensation for any damage to the property.

The tenure cycle can essentially be categorized into four different stages when it comes to property inventories and they are inventory documentation, check-in, intermediate inspection, and check-out. Property inventory services are offered by specialist companies for each of these stages.

1. Inventory documentation service
Before a new tenant moves in, an employee who is a professional in producing property inventories can go to the property and do a full inspection of everything inside. This will include items such as furniture, appliances, and furnishings that have been provided by a landlord. The inventory report will provide details on the condition of each item to provide the initial condition of the item before any tenant moves out. The structure of the property itself will also be on the report which will provide information on the number of rooms in the property as well as full details of the floor, walls, ceilings, windows and permanent fixtures.

2. Billing service
Check-In takes place the day a new tenant moves into a property. As part of this service, a property inventory clerk will guide the tenant through the different rooms and ask the tenant to compare the previously prepared written inventory document with the actual situation. This process allows the tenant to verify the accuracy and fairness of the written inventory document. At Check-In, readings of the electricity, gas and water meters will also be taken. Once the tenant is satisfied that the inventory report is fair and accurate, the inventory clerk will take the tenant’s signature on the inventory document.

3. Provisional Inspection Service
Landlords often worry if their tenant is taking care of their property. To help alleviate these concerns, an employee can visit the facility as part of the property inventory service package offered by the specialized company. This is known as the Interim Inspection when an employee will go to a property while a lease is in progress to see if there are any issues with the property.

4. Departure Service
The last stage of the leasing cycle is Check-Out. This is usually done on the day the tenancy leaves a property. At Check-Out, the inventory clerk will inspect the property and provide a report on the condition and contents of the property at the end of the tenancy. He will disclose if there has been any damage to the property and if any items are missing. Final meter readings, forwarding address and tenant keys are also collected in the Check-Out service. The property inventory company can also help mediate compensation between the tenant and the landlord if there has been deterioration in the property.