So often I talk to owners who are self-managing their rental and they'll reveal that they haven't been in the home for a year or two or even longer. They are either too busy don't see it as a priority, feel uncomfortable, or believe the tenant is taking great care of the home. This is a recipe for disaster. Some reasons for an annual inspection include:

• Looking for any deferred maintenance i.e. dry rot, water damage, cracks in siding

looking for mold

• Changing the furnace filter
• Checking roof gutters and Eve's and Landscaping
• Changing out batteries in Smoke and CO detectors
• Making sure that tenant is caring for the property
• Making sure the tenant hasn't brought in roommates not on the lease
• Making sure no pets have been snuck in
• The tenant can bring up any issues needing to be addressed
• Making sure the yards are okay
• It builds Goodwill between you and the tenant

 Ideally you have your tenant on a 12-month lease so schedule the home inspection at the 10-month Mark 2 months before the lease expires that way if there is any tenant related issues that you're not happy with in the inspection and cannot get them corrected you simply do not renew the lease. Make sure your lease includes language allowing an annual Home Inspection.