For Tenants
Know what the visit is for
A survey on this standard looks at the home — condition and safety — not how you live in it. You get notice, a clear scope, and a photographed record if a question comes up later.
Preserving Properties. Preventing Problems.
Move to a new home and the rules can feel like they change with the landlord. One office inspects constantly. Another never explains what they are looking for. When the visit follows the RPC standard, it checks the same things and is documented the same way.
Envision Property Services is the company that performs the survey for your property manager or owner. It follows the RPC standard, published by NRPS Institute — see what it covers.
Why it is useful
Predictable, limited, and written down
Predictable visits
Reasonable notice, and a consistent cadence — typically two occupied surveys a year, plus move-in and move-out when those are scheduled. No unannounced knock.
A clear scope
The survey looks at the home’s condition and safety. It does not grade your housekeeping or your lifestyle.
A fair record
Neutral photos mean a later question is answered with evidence. The record is shared with your property manager and owner. Ask your manager if you want a copy.
What is checked
The home, not a judgment of you
A CRCA Tech records visible condition, assigns no fault, and does not grade housekeeping. The survey is visual and non-invasive. It is not a code enforcement visit and not a real-estate transaction inspection.
Exterior and water
Roofing, drainage, grading, and water management — the things that cause damage quietly if nobody is watching.
Safety devices
Smoke and CO detectors, electrical safety, and clear egress. The protections that keep you safe in the home.
Mechanical and utility
HVAC and plumbing, looked at visually, so wear is caught before it becomes a cold night or a leak.
Interior and early wear
Condition and early signs, so small issues are flagged for the owner before they grow. Findings are graded Now, Soon, or Monitor for the home’s upkeep — never to assess you.
If the owner is on the plan
Small items may be handled during the visit
On the Preventative Maintenance Plan, the same visit can include recaulking a kitchen or bath, tightening an under-sink connection, or replacing a smoke or CO alarm. That work is the owner’s maintenance, included in their plan. It is not a charge to you, and it is not a comment on how you keep the house.
Alarm replacement does not apply to devices that have been tampered with.
Your part
What is expected, in plain language
Most of this is simply living in the home. None of it is meant to catch you out.
- Keep the home reasonably clean and well ventilated.
- Report issues promptly. A small leak caught early protects you, too.
- Replace HVAC filters and test detectors where your lease asks you to.
- Avoid damage beyond ordinary, everyday wear.
- Allow scheduled access when proper notice is given.
This does not replace or override your lease. Your lease and local law govern your obligations. The list is a plain-language summary of common tenant expectations. It is not a contract.
The visit
What it is actually like
01
Notice first
You receive at least 24 hours’ notice. In most cases we send a first note about two weeks before the walkthrough, and another the Friday before the survey week.
02
A CRCA arrives
A CRCA Tech working with Envision Property Services. Credentialed to the published standard, and listed where a report can be verified.
03
A calm walk-through
Interior and exterior, with photos and notes. Visits typically last from about thirty minutes up to two hours. You are welcome to be there and to ask what is being documented.
04
Nothing to stage
No deep clean and no staging. Clear a path to panels, the water heater, HVAC, under sinks, and exits. Tell us about known leaks, alarms, pests, or electrical issues ahead of time.
05
The day, and an estimated time
Your notice gives the day and an estimated time. We’ll be there sometime during business hours that day. The time of day is not guaranteed, so we may be a little early or late. We text you when we are on our way. If we need to reschedule or there is an issue, we return the following business day. The link in your notice shows where things stand, and lets you confirm the day or ask for a different one.
06
After the visit
When the survey is finished, we send a short note asking if you had any issues with your survey. Reply to it and the office will follow up.
You do not need to be home. We use the access your manager arranges. If only minors are home when we arrive, we will not start the survey and will come back another business day. Tell us the type and name of any pets. For safety we prefer dogs off-site or kenneled, especially if you will not be home.
Photos are for documentation and are shared with your manager and owner. We avoid documenting private items when we can. If you need to reschedule, the sooner the better. Use the details on your notice, or ask your property manager.
Move-in to move-out
What the baseline is for
At move-in, the survey documents condition in detail, including 360° photos. That baseline is your protection: you should not be charged for what was already there. At move-out, the home is compared with that record. Ordinary wear is not damage. Damage beyond ordinary wear may be charged only as your lease and local law allow. The photos on the record show what changed.
Ordinary wear
- Minor scuffs and marks from everyday living
- Small nail holes from hanging pictures
- Paint faded from time and sunlight
- Carpet lightly worn along normal paths
- Fixtures loosened by ordinary use
Beyond ordinary wear
- Large holes or damage to walls and doors
- Pet damage to floors, trim, or carpet
- Broken fixtures, appliances, or windows
- Stains or odors beyond ordinary cleaning
- Unauthorized changes or alterations
Your lease and local law govern the actual charges. The survey supplies a photographed comparison both sides can look at. Move-in and move-out surveys · Tenant FAQ