Inspection at Work

The last inspection for this year is finally over with. This inspection takes place about every 3 to 5 years and is mandated by HUD to make sure that we keep our units in ship shape order. It started after HUD discovered units it had forgotten it owned or managed (forget which) back in the 90's and they decided to initiate this inspection regime. It is subcontracted out to inspection services and it is very luck of the draw what inspector one gets.

I have been through 4 of these and it is exactly a 50/50 split on reasonable vs unreasonable inspectors. The hard thing for us as management is that there are some things that are truly beyond our control as landlords. For instance, we have galley style kitchens. The fire door is in the kitchen--you know, the emergency exit. However probably 99 per cent of people put their trash barrel in front of it. I have had 2 inspectors that will cite us on this as a "blocked egress". I have had 2 who will let me move it to one side so they can see the door is operational and not cite us. We as landlords implore tenants not to block the doorway but the reality is, where the heck are the people supposed to put their trash basket? Thankfully, today's inspector was of the reasonable variety. He was not measuring the drop off by our steps with a measuring stick as a previous inspector did. He let me move trash barrels. If a door didn't close automatically he let us adjust it in his presence. He was thorough and there were a few minor violations, but he was really, really fair.

It felt so good just to have the inspection take place without the feeling that someone was trying to prove that we were slum lords. Nothing could really be farther from the truth. While there may be things I don't like about my job, I have always been proud of the work our management company does to maintain the property. It doesn't look like a "project" nor is it run like a "project." The apartments are all graciously appointed regardless of the rent that someone is paying.

It was obvious from the way our halls looked and our grounds that we took care and pride in the site and fortunately, the inspector really saw that and commented on it. Our apartment community has over 300 units and more than 350 children on the property. It could look very very different, and in fact DID look very different when I first began work there in 78.

In a very funny odd twist the inspector was speaking of families and mentioned that he was more "friend" than "son" with his mother. She had him very early in life and he is 30 and she is just turning 50. That would be my age. LOL On the plus side he had no idea that I was the same age as mom. So I guess I will bask in that knowledge and in the fact that the inspection and all its accumulated tensions are done for better or worse for now!