8 Tips for Getting Your Property Ready to Rent
While some tenants will immediately sign a lease agreement, some will move out when the tenancy expires.
As a landlord, there are a few tasks you must do to prepare your unit for the next group of residents that will occupy it. Staging a unit is recommended to make the space more attractive and easy to market.
Keep reading this article to find more tips to consider when getting your rental home rent-ready!
Post Your Vacancy Immediately on Multiple Listing Sites
A vacant unit will still cost you in terms of maintenance. In addition, you even have to strengthen security with no one occupying the rental space. Knowing this, landlords have to pour their energy into finding great tenants immediately.
Be visible and easy to contact. Analyze which advertising platforms will be the most effective for potential tenants to come across your ad.
Try to maximize the opportunities to market your vacant rental property by joining local events, spreading the word to your social network, and posting on social media platforms.
Respond promptly when you receive inquiries and be open to performing property tours at the most convenient schedule of a prospective renter. Inform your current renters if they know someone who will be interested in renting the unit.
Notice When Your Appliances and Other Furnishings Have Run out of Their Prime
Some items in your rental unit may be due to be replaced. Although it is good to have broken things repaired, calculate whether the cost of frequent repairs exceeds buying a new item.
The best thing about an unoccupied unit is you can run a thorough inspection and evaluate properly which things need to be repaired or replaced.
Normal wear and tear is bound to catch up, especially if you are welcoming short-term renters.
Take time to evaluate whether the following need to be renovated:
- Lights need to be changed
- Smoke detectors and fire alarms are still working
- Doorknobs and windows require fixing
- Carpets, curtains, and window blinds are due for an upgrade
Prepare a Checklist When You Conduct a Walkthrough Inspection
One of the best practices that streamline security deposit reimbursement at the end of a tenancy is documenting a property walkthrough inspection.
You must hold one with tenants before they move in so you can both agree on the condition of the property. It will be easy to compare the state of the unit when a renter moves out.
Having a checklist of items makes it easy not to forget essential items to take note of. Doing this encourages fair assessment and getting renters to sign the checklist ensures mutual agreement. You need to give them a copy after the inspection.
Engage the Services of Cleaning Specialists
Although a DIY cleanup is possible, hiring professional cleaners can be a great strategy. They have special equipment and cleaning agents that will remove the dirt in your rental space.
What’s more, they are trained and skilled to do a thorough job, such that difficult-to-reach corners are also left in pristine conditions.
You can deduct a cleaning fee from the security deposit if the renter left the rental in a messy state. However, if an end-of-tenancy cleaning is part of your move-out process and the renter kept the property in excellent form, a heavy-duty cleanup may be unnecessary.
Areas to pay attention to:
- In your bathrooms, make sure that the toilets, showers, sinks, floors, walls, storage cabinets, and mirrors are clean
- In your kitchens, remove the dirt from the counters, sinks, floors, storage spaces, kitchen drawers, stoves, and refrigerators
- Spare time to remove dust from walls, windows, and ceilings
- Make an effort to tidy up closets, garage spaces, and laundry areas
Rekey and Install New Locks for the Main Doors
Landlords should make it a priority to change the locks of the rental unit to keep their tenants safe. After all, you wouldn’t want an evicted renter to be able to barge in on the unit when new residents are occupying the space.
Install new locks and change the keys. It would also be a good investment for landlords to use electronic locks to make this critical task effortless. A simple passcode reset is more efficient.
Consider Upgrading Your Property
Updating your rental unit does not have to run a lot of expense, simple upgrades can be done. You can also choose this opportunity to perform big renovations since there are no renters to disturb and you can freely access the property anytime.
Tips for improvement projects:
- Repainting the walls
- Landscaping
- Creating more storage areas
- Expanding the rooms
- Adding soundproof walls
- Repairing or replacing the roof
Remove Mold Presence
Landlords should strive to provide healthy living spaces for renters. Managing mold issues should be part of this responsibility.
Schedule remediation to prevent mold growth. Typically, mold appears in areas where moisture gathers so run a thorough inspection on the laundry areas, bathrooms, and kitchen nooks.
Eliminate Pest Infestation
Rentals with pests can be uncomfortable to stay in. If you wish to make tenants happy and transform them into long-term renters, it is best to address pest infestation.
Sanitize your rental unit by placing a sufficient number of trash bins, hiring exterminators, and maintaining the property well.
Bottom Line
The list of tasks above can help you present a well-maintained rental space for incoming tenants. Taking care of the small details can motivate them to treat your investment property excellently.
Another good option for busy landlords is to consider hiring a property management company.
If you are seeking a reliable property manager, contact Howzer Property Management today!
We have a team of professionals managing various duties, such as marketing, tenant screening, property maintenance, rent collection, financial reporting, regular property inspections, handling of tenant concerns, and more.