Checklist · Property manager
Vacant property inspection checklist
An empty unit does not tell you when it starts to leak. A vacant property fails quietly: a pipe freezes, a window is forced, the sump pump stops, mail piles up and says nobody is home. This is the built-in vacant property template — security, utilities, inside, outside and the record of the visit — walked on a regular schedule with dated photos, so the owner knows it is fine and the insurer can see it was checked.
16 items in 5 areas · the built-in “Vacant property check” template, as it ships
How to run it
Three passes, in walking order
Outside and secure
Doors and windows locked, no sign of entry, mail and flyers removed, the lawn or snow kept, exterior lights working.
Utilities as planned
Heat on and the thermostat set, or the water drained and the main off; electric and gas as the owner decided.
Inside, room by room
Leaks, stains, standing water, mold-like growth, pests, alarms, the sump pump. The visit's date and who walked it close the record.
The checklist
Vacant property check
The periodic check of an empty unit or building: secure, dry, heated or drained, and photographed, for the owner and the insurer.
Built-in template, as it ships · reviewed against the app on 2026-09-18
| Security | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doors & windows locked, no forced entry | ||||
| Signs of occupancy or trespass | ||||
| Mail, flyers & packages removed | ||||
| Lockbox & keys accounted for |
| Utilities | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat on and thermostat set, or water drained | ||||
| Water main: on or off as planned | ||||
| Electric & gas status |
| Inside | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaks, stains or standing water | ||||
| Mold-like growth or odor | ||||
| Signs of pests | ||||
| Smoke & CO alarms working | ||||
| Sump pump running, if there is one |
| Outside | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof, gutters & downspouts | ||||
| Lawn, snow & walkways kept | ||||
| Exterior lights working |
| Record | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of the visit and who walked it |
In the app an item can also answer as pass/fail, done/not done or a number, and any Fair or Poor item becomes a work order in one tap. The PDF prints the checklist as shown, with a notes line per item and a signature block.
When not to use it
- — The move-out record for the deposit — use the move-out template.
- — Getting a unit rent-ready — use turnover / make-ready.
What goes wrong
- — Skipping the basement because the main floor looked fine.
- — Leaving the thermostat too low to protect the pipes.
What this is not
A periodic visual check. It is not a home inspection, an insurance inspection or a security service, and it does not decide what a policy or the law requires.
The finished report
Complete the walk and the PDF exists
Every item with its rating, notes and photos; an action-items table by priority; signatures captured on the phone or through a link. No export step. See a finished one before you sign up.
Built for property managers
Property manager
Move-ins, move-outs, routine walks, turnovers — and the vendors who keep the units running.
Pick “Property manager” at signup — or start from this page and it's already picked — and the app leads with this template and speaks the trade's words.
Questions
Vacant property check: what people ask
How often should a vacant property be checked?
As often as the owner and the insurance policy require. Many policies set conditions on vacant properties, so read the policy, and weekly checks are common in winter.
Does the visit record count for the insurer?
The dated photos show the property was checked and what it looked like. Whether that satisfies a policy's conditions is a question for the insurer.
Can someone else do the visits?
Yes. Assign the walk to a teammate or a vendor with access; their photos and the time they were taken land in the same record.
More checklists
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