You are a successful property manager, you have rented out your first property, it went well, and now you are ready to transition the tenant out and make the rental “rent ready” again. Many property managers and landlords idealize the process to make a property “rent ready”, thinking a quick sweep through the home will suffice. This is not enough time or energy that should be spent so that your future tenants can enter with no worries. Here are five simple steps to ensure that your home is in great condition and ready for a new occupant:
Step One: Re-key the Locks
In order to make your property rent ready, one must change the locks. Yes, you collected the keys from the resident, but did they make spares? All outside locking doors should be rekeyed between each resident. In addition change or have a rotating system for changing on any garage doors, access gates, exterior property gates, and mailboxes.
Step Two: Maintenance Assessment
Next to make your rental rent ready is sending a professional through to see what may need repair. Have them access all accessible pipes and electrical functionality, light bulbs and fixtures, garbage disposals, cabinets, windows and screens, window treatments, heating and cooling devices, doors, etc. This should also include replacing furnace filters and batteries in smoke and carbon detectors. The more detailed , the better!
Step Three: Major Upgrades or Repairs
Next to make your property rent ready is making the repairs. More costly repairs are tricky to complete with a resident in the home. Assess the condition of all flooring materials, paint, countertops, bathtub surrounds, major appliances, roofs, gutters, and chimneys/fireplaces. Are the bathrooms or kitchens outdated and in need o remodeling? Now would be the time to make those changes and evaluate what increase in rent you could obtain for upgrades.
Step Four: Exterior Clean Up
After repairs are done inside it is time to make the exterior rent ready. Don’t just look inside, look outside, too! Haul any debris from the yard, trim the trees, prune the bushes, and cut the grass. Maybe it’s time to invest in updating your curb appeal!
Step Five: Professional Cleaning
Finally is a detailed cleaner to make your property rent ready. Even the best residents don’t often clean well enough. Hire a professional cleaning service for the job and a truck mounted steam clean service for the carpets. It makes all the difference in how the home shows and how quickly it rents.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
