A common question Hosts ask is, “What can I do to increase occupancy and tenure for my Members?” While there are a lot of factors that go into creating a positive PadSplit experience as a Host, having a clean, secure, and functional PadSplit is one of the most important ones.
Whether you’re working with a property management company or self-managing your PadSplit yourself, we recommend biweekly quality assurance walkthroughs. Learn about best practices surrounding inspections of your PadSplit.
What is a Quality Assurance Walkthrough?
A quality assurance walkthrough is an in-person walkthrough of your PadSplit property, including Member’s rooms. It allows the property owner to examine the inside and outside of the property to make sure no rules are being broken and catch any maintenance issues before they become more significant problems. The frequency of these walkthroughs is up to the Host and Property Management team, but we recommend conducting them twice a month.
Why are Quality Assurance Walkthroughs important?
This is an opportunity to protect your investment and ensure that the property is operating efficiently and effectively. It helps keep the PadSplit clean and in working order for new Members moving in. In addition, it establishes a connection with current Members and allows you to find and address any problems before they become larger issues.
Who should conduct a Quality Assurance Walkthrough?
Ultimately, this depends on your management strategy. Some Hosts who self-manage their properties opt to conduct these walkthroughs personally. An added benefit of conducting them in person is to build relationships with your current Members and gather their feedback on your property.
If you have a Property Management team, you can enlist them to complete quality assurance walk-throughs. You will want to communicate your expectations and provide a list of items to check for and monitor the inspection results. Regardless of who is conducting a walkthrough, make this part of every visit to the property so you don’t require additional trips. For example, if you are heading to the property to complete a room turn when a Member moves out, use it as an opportunity to inspect the property in its entirety while you or the property management team is there.
Some Hosts have enlisted the help of a trusted long-term Member to complete these inspections in exchange for a small discount off membership dues, such as $5/week. The Member provides weekly written updates and pictures.
What should you look for during a Quality Assurance Walkthrough?
While it ultimately depends on the property itself, quality assurance walkthroughs should check for:
- Security
- Maintenance
- Cleanliness
- Utility efficiency
- Outdoor property upkeep
- Rule violations, such as candles or space heaters
What should Hosts do after Quality Assurance Walkthroughs are complete?
If you are outsourcing these to a long-term PadSplit Member or Property Manager, it’s important to have a conversation with the person who conducted the inspection. We recommend Hosts send a message to all PadSplit Members from your owner dashboard after each walkthrough, tailoring the message to the results of the most recent walkthrough. This direct line of communication helps establish your presence as the Host and reminds Members to observe the House Rules.
If a Host found evidence of a rule violation, they should report the rule violation to PadSplit through the Host Dashboard, providing as much detail as possible (including supporting photos or videos). PadSplit Support will evaluate the report and remove a key from the Member if warranted.
Final Thoughts
Quality assurance walkthroughs are a great way for you to protect your investment and ensure higher occupancy and Member satisfaction. As one PadSplit Host says, “If I can address smaller issues to mitigate the bigger issues, then it’s worth my time.”
