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TL:DR
*Check with the landlord to see what landscaping or yard maintenance will be your responsibility versus the landlord’s responsibility. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING.
*Check for fruit trees: Ideal for eating but brutal for upkeep.
*Is there a sprinkler system and is it updated?
*Is pest control required and who handles it?
*Who handles water feature cleaning and maintenance? Have they been well kept?
*Is the home located in an HOA and are there any strict exterior rules you should know about? Be sure to get a copy of the CC&Rs.
*Are the fences well kept and allow for the right amount of privacy and security?
*Are any wooden decks/balconies free from rotting boards, nails, and splinters?
The pics are insta-worthy. It seems as if all your must-have items are listed on the rental ad. The home is even located two blocks away from your favorite coffee shop! You submit an application and are scheduled to view the home before deciding if you want to proceed with submitting that phat security deposit.
Sure, you can walk through and confirm everything looks good aesthetically. But there’s a few key items you’ll want to take a peek at before committing with a deposit. Is the home safe and well taken care of? Or did the landlord put lipstick on a pig? Conducting a thorough walk-through will save you time, money, and frustration both up front and down the road if you can get a solid idea of the home’s condition along with any upkeep you’ll be responsible for as a renter.
What you’re looking for will vary depending on your non-negotiable list, but here are some important items to consider when conducting a property walk-through, specifically regarding the yard and outside space. Keep in mind this isn’t an exhaustive list such as something a move-in checklist might cover, but it’s some heavy-hitter items that could highly affect the quality of your tenancy should they be missing or janky.
The Yard and Outside Space.
Depending on your situation, the outdoor spaces offered at different homes vary widely. You could be looking for spacious front and back yards. Maybe there’s a tool shed or perhaps there’s no yard at all and just a balcony or patio. Whatever size or type of outside space the home you’re looking at has, definitely take a look at these items before submitting a deposit:
Landscape Responsibilities:
Make sure and ask the landlord what your responsibility will be regarding maintaining the landscaping and yard overall. Will you be responsible for mowing, removing weeds, trimming trees, etc? What about trees that are 3 stories tall and require heavy equipment to trim? Does it look like the previous renter or owner took care of the yard or has it been neglected akin to the veggie tray at a party? Knowing what to expect up front will help you get an idea of how much time and money you’ll be forking out and if the estimated amount is worth the trouble.
Whatever the expectations are make sure you get them in writing in the lease agreement (more on this later).
Fruit-Bearing Trees:
Verify if the home hosts any fruit-bearing trees. There are two possible scenarios with fruit trees:
Outcome #1. Your organic, farm-to-table obsessed self foresees all the homemade pies, fresh fruit, and quintessential home cooking vibes associated with growing your own food. That’s awesome! You’ll be stocked up for the season and can live your best grow your own food situation. Tik Tok ain’t READY for your pie making tutorials!
Outcome #2. You’re not exactly the fresh fruit picking, wandering through the whimsical orchards type of person. If this is the case you’ll find yourself mowing over fallen fruit that splatters and gets sucked into the mower blades. Not to mention the fruit will muck up the lawn if not regularly cleaned up. If you have a pet, this even more incentivizes you to constantly clean up fallen fruit to avoid them from eating a bad apple or getting worms. Another compelling scenario: the fruit tree hangs over your driveway and drops fruit onto your vehicle, killing the paint and causing you to invest in an unlimited car wash membership at the local squeaky clean.
Whatever your vibe is, embrace it but know the consequences whether it be pies or demise. Heck, maybe it’s a bit of both!
Sprinklers:
Is there a built-in sprinkler system? Will you need to set the sprinkler timer? Blow out/start up the sprinklers during seasonal changes? Is the sprinkler control box an antiquated 1800s relic or is it modern with instructions included? A key question to also ask is if the sprinklers use city water or irrigation water. Oftentimes sprinklers that run on city water are exponentially more expensive than sprinklers that use irrigation water. The difference could be hundreds of dollars per month so be sure to inquire.
If the home doesn’t have an automated sprinkler system installed, does that mean you’ll have to ‘hand-water’ the lawn each scorching summer or put your own sprinklers out and move them around at different intervals so the entire lawn gets watered? This might not be a big deal if you only host a tiny patch of grass. But any lawn much larger will consume a lot of time rotating the sprinklers around. Especially if you live anywhere with high temps in the summer months.
Pest Control:
Find out if you or the landlord be responsible for pest control if the home requires it. This usually looks like spraying around windows, doors, vents, and any other places creatures might try to score free real estate. Nobody wants a wasp nest hanging directly above their sliding back door.
Some landlords have a monthly or seasonal schedule in which they or a contractor sprays around the home for pests. If they don’t, you’ll need to be prepared to take on the money and time associated with this.
Prices vary but a decent jug of pest juice that includes the sprayer runs anywhere from $15-$40 per jug. While not a bank breaking expense it will be an additional expense to consider on top of everything else. If you’re renting a massive house with tons of square footage you’ll probably be doubling the amount of juice needed for it to be effective. If you’re not the do-it-yourself type or just don’t want to deal with the hassle, there are usually local pest control companies that offer one-time sprays or you can sign up for a reoccurring service schedule.
Water Features:
Check to see if there are any water features such as a fountain, swimming pool, or hot tub. Ask how often it needs to be serviced and if you’ll be responsible for any cleaning or maintenance. Oftentimes the landlord will be, but you don’t want to assume and then find yourself spending a lot of time and money doing it yourself if you assumed incorrectly (we all know what happens when you ‘assume.’)
If you’re responsible for cleaning and maintenance, throw a chicken eye on the condition the water feature is currently in. Try to start it up and see if actually works or if it’s sputtery or makes funky noises. Also inquire about winterization and what that process entails and if there are required winter covers, chemicals, etc. Again, if you’re not the do-it-yourself kind of person or just don’t have the time, ask the landlord if they have a trusted company they recommend that you can hire for your own sake to perform any cleaning and maintenance tasks.
Homeowner’s Association (HOA):
While this isn’t something directly involved with the yard, it can affect how your yard appears and the amount of work you’ll be doing to accommodate certain HOA stipulations. If the home is part of an HOA ask for a copy of the CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) so you can see what’s required of you if you decide to live in the neighborhood.
During the walkthrough ask about overall expectations and see if there are any specific rules the HOA is strict about. For example, some HOAs are very particular about yard appearance and how often the lawn must be mowed. Other HOAs are particular about when and where trash cans should be put out on trash collection day. HOA rules differ based on how each one operates but all rules should all be outlined in the CC&Rs so you’re aware and can reference them when need be.
Some HOAs are more relaxed and don’t mind longer time periods between mowing and weeds popping up here and there. Other HOAs conduct daily drive-bys and will send you a compliance letter if you don’t adhere to the rules. Knowing the expectations up front will provide another data point when considering moving into the neighborhood.
Fences:
Take a look at any fences around the home. Are they well kept? Are any wood boards rotting? Is the fence just short enough that you’ll be able to make direct, uncomfortable eye contact with your neighbor each time you’re outside? More importantly, if you have a dog will they be able to escape through any gaps or rotting boards?
If you’re a fan of privacy perhaps a chain link fence isn’t going to give the same effect as a totally enclosed wood or vinyl fence. Inspect the fence gate and make sure it functions properly and isn’t a hassle to open and close. Is there the option to install a lock for when you’re on vacation or if you want to lock the gate on a regular basis?
Decks & Balconies:
Wooden decks and balconies are common but take a gander to ensure none of the wood is rotting and there are no exposed nails. Nobody wants a ‘Home Alone’ style nail-through-the-foot situation. If the wood is too weathered it could be Splinter City on bare feet. Rotten boards could also lead to falling through or getting an ankle stuck and any rotting balcony railings could be a serious safety hazard. Wood decks and balconies should be well kept with a weather proof coating and any broken or rotted boards replaced immediately.
As mentioned in several sections of this post, whatever the requirements are for you as a renter, make sure to get it in writing in the lease agreement or at least some kind of written agreement. Even an email could be acceptable as long as you and the landlord mutually agree on the terms and they’re written concisely. This protects both you and the landlord and sets the right expectations for everyone with minimal surprises.
Once everything checks out and all your questions answered, it’s time to start visualizing where the lawn furniture is going to live along with thoughts of your first steak on the grill.
Best of luck checking out the spicy outside space at your potential new home!