Property Inspection Checklist and Report Templates
A property inspection checklist can be completed by a variety of individuals for a variety of purposes. In general, though, such a checklist is designed to collect specific information about a property during a property inspection. It helps keep the inspector on task and ensures that the property meets certain standards and conditions set forth by the owner, the manager, the bank, the insurance company, or government or professional regulations.
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Let's see what a property inspection is, what should you include in your property inspection checklist, and how to create a report for your use case.
What is a Property Inspection?
A property inspection is a term for any evaluation of a property. It can have many different use cases:
- A rental property inspection performed by landlords/owners of rental properties and facilities when a tenant moves out or before one moves in.
- A commercial property inspection performed by managers who want to ensure safe, functional spaces for employees, customers, and vendors. This inspection may even be carried out by a licensed, fully trained professional for insurance or mortgage purposes or prior to any kind of renovation.
- A home inspection checklist performed as a part of the home buying process. It is usually done by a professional home inspector and takes place right after the seller accepts an offer from the buyer.
Broadly, these type of inspections are always completed with the purpose of providing key information about a property so that the owner/buyer can make educated decisions about it.
Why is a Property Inspection Checklist Necessary?
A property inspection checklist helps streamline the property inspection and ensures no steps are skipped or missed in the process. It keeps the inspector organized and focused on key areas of concern. Additionally, the checklist can allow for comments and photos, and help the property owner address any maintenance or safety issues that may arise.
What Does a Property Inspection Checklist Template Look Like?
A property inspection checklist may include the following questions:
- What is the occupancy status?
- If the property is occupied, who is occupying it?
- Are there any postings, notices, or signage that would indicate that the property has incurred a code violation?
- Are backrooms and stockrooms well-maintained?
- Is the electrical room unobstructed?
- Is there a minimum 18-inch clearance of stock to the sprinkler?
- Is the compressor room clear of all storage?
- Are there adequate ashtrays in smoking areas?
- Is adequate signage clearly posted?
- Are all fire extinguishers accounted for and in place?
- Are all fire extinguishers in good repair and fully charged?
The checklist should also include the following information about the property, as well as the person who performed and approved the inspection:
- Property Address
- Date of Inspection
- Inspector Name
- Inspection Company
- Inspection Company Phone Number
- Inspector Signature
Your property inspection form may include different or additional questions depending on the type of property it is and the kind of information you want to collect. Such a checklist really depends on the purpose of the property inspection, and it’s wise to tailor it to suit your needs.
Bellow is a snapshot of one property inspection checklist built with Forms On Fire.
What is a Property Inspection Report?
A property inspection report is a PDF file of a digitally completed checklist. Admins can view these completed checklists each time they’re completed. These reports prove valuable if there’s a question or incident, as they can indicate the inspector's name, the date of the inspection, and if various conditions were met.
Here is an example of a report based on the checklist we showed above.
Where Do I Get a Property Inspection Checklist?
You can create your own property inspection checklists with just word processing software and a printer. However, using an automated inspection tool like Forms On Fire makes the process much easier.
Forms On Fire offers hundreds of form templates — including a property inspection checklist — that you can customize to your exact needs. You can then publish your checklist and distribute it to your team, who can complete and submit it while in the field using a smart device. Additionally, you can generate reports using information from the checklists. The entire process is automated and removes any need to keep track of hard copies, worry about duplicate data-entry, and manually submit and track information.
