Annual Property/Smoke Alarm Certification Inspections

  An annual maintenance inspection offers several key benefits for landlords, and property management companies helping them protect their investment and ensure tenant satisfaction.  Here’s why it’s a smart practice:

• Early Detection of Issues

An inspection can uncover potential problems—such as leaks, electrical issues, or HVAC inefficiencies—before they become costly or disruptive. Proactive maintenance saves money and prevents emergency repairs.

• Protecting Property Value

Regular inspections ensure the property is kept in good condition, preserving its value and appeal. Addressing maintenance needs promptly helps avoid deterioration over time.

• Ensuring Tenant Safety and Comfort

An annual check-up ensures that safety systems (like smoke detectors or fire extinguishers) are functional and that the property remains a safe and comfortable living environment. This can boost tenant satisfaction and retention.

• Maintaining Documentation

Inspections provide a record of the property’s condition over time. This can be useful in resolving disputes with tenants or when planning future renovations or upgrades. It also maintains records of the locations of important controls in a home such as whole house water, and other plumbing shut-offs for a couple of examples. It also documents the age of appliances to help owners budget for future maintenance, repairs, or replacements. 

• Encouraging Tenant Accountability

Scheduled inspections remind tenants of their responsibility to care for the property and report issues.  This fosters better communication and helps tenants feel supported. It’s been our experience that some tenants do not contact the PMC to alert them of certain issues, that if not reported or found can lead to costly damages and repairs. 

  The inspection itself includes the exterior and interior of the house as far as general upkeep and to survey for safety concerns and mechanical equipment that may not be operating as intended.  It also includes a visual inspection of the roof from the ground, and if needed 360 ° photos of suspected roof covering issues. 

It’s also an opportune time for you to learn more about what is or is not working as intended from the tenants perspective in relation to everyday items used by a tenant such as appliances, HVAC, plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, doors, windows, built-in kitchen appliances and more.   

Report that includes:

• Deficiencies in mechanical appliances, kitchen built in appliances, laundry, that are visible in nature, or as reported to the inspector by the tenant, as well as safety upgrades, and maintenance reminders.
• Photos of the exterior from all sides.
• Photos of the grounds.
• Photos of every room in the house.
• Age of major mechanical appliances (where the data plate is clearly visible without removing dead front covers), such as A/C compressor, indoor furnace and air handler, and water heater. 

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As you know Virginia requires that all rental units must have their smoke detectors certified on an annual basis to assure that they are in working order, not expired, and in the required locations.  This can be a time consuming task for a property managment company or landlord.  Outsourcing this activity is a great way to take a work load off of your employees or yourself.  

Let us do the certifications for you. 

 Add this to your annual inspection process.  We test each unit for proper operation and alerting, and check for unit expiration.  Add this to your annual inspection process and the price for the certification is discounted since we are already onsite. 

We also replace expired or non-functioning devices, as well as add them to areas where Virginia requires them to be located.  

What's Included

The smoke detector certification inspection includes the certifcation of each installed unit, and the addition of units where required by Virginia.  You will get a report for each property that includes photos and comments for each device, as well as the certification form for your records.