We deal with many absentee owners. You will be asked to perform inspections by both the tenant and the owners. Don’t agree to inspect anything. You can agree to receive the keys and send the owner a video, but you cannot agree to perform an inspection for liability reasons.
Tenants will ask you to come in and inspect the unit prior to their departure or at the time the keys are handed over. Do NOT do it. They will try hard because they want you to tell them what they need to do, or even worse, try to get your approval of the way the property is left. When a dispute over the deposit arises, a tenant will have no problem saying, “but so-and-so came and looked at the property and said everything was fine.” Everything may look fine at a glance, but you may not realize that a large area rug was put in the washer and the machine is off balance, etc. The tenant will really try hard to convince you. You can tell the tenant to return the property clean without damage and drop off all keys and devices (even give them a list) at the office, but you are not allowed to inspect the property for them.
Landlords will ask you to inspect the property for them, but once again, you are NOT an inspector. How are you supposed to know that the washing machine was left off balance? That there is a stain hidden by a pillow on the couch? The list goes on, and this is a tough situation because almost all of the owners are out of town. You can send them an email stating that you go to the property after the tenant vacates and take a video, but you take absolutely cannot inspect the property for liability reasons. If the owner agrees, you may take a video and send it to the owner. State in the video that you are not performing an inspection and the video will allow the owner to see how the property was left by the tenant.