Managing property can be complicated. In addition to big picture moves related to buying and selling properties, you’ll be responsible for repairing those properties, maintaining them, marketing them, and taking care of your tenants for the duration of their dwelling.
But many landlords neglect the critical space between tenants, when the property is vacant and positioned to be rented in the near future. Utilizing this time wisely to prepare for a new tenant can set you, the property, and your tenants up for success.
How do you do it?
Why You Need to Make the Moving Process Smooth
Landlords strongly benefit from making the tenant moving process as smooth as possible. Obviously, you’re not going to have much of a hand in helping the tenant organize their possessions or do the actual moving. But what you can do is set up the property to be as convenient as possible for your tenant – and prevent possible issues you’ll have to deal with in the future.
Taking this proactive care means your tenant is going to be happier and more satisfied from day one, making an excellent first impression and establishing a solid foundation for your future landlord-tenant relationship. Additionally, you’ll prevent or mitigate a wide variety of issues that could crop up in those critical first few months.
Important Ways to Prep a Property for a New Tenant
What are the best strategies to prep a property for a new tenant?
- Check your understanding of local laws. You may be intimately familiar with the local laws governing the rental of property, but it’s important to remember that laws are constantly changing. Between tenants, you’ll have an excellent opportunity to review your current understanding and get updated on any new laws or regulations that might apply to you. If you need help, consider contacting a real estate attorney.
- Clear out old possessions. After your old tenants move out, there’s a strong chance they’ll have left behind a variety of useless possessions. These possessions may not be harming anything, but your new tenant may not appreciate them, especially if they’re big or difficult to move. Clear out any old possessions and keep them in storage if you’re required to do so. You can usually get rid of them after a reasonable period of time has elapsed.
- Deep clean. Most landlords should know this, but between tenants, it’s a good idea to give your property a deep clean. This is going to make your property much more presentable and hygienic, and make tenants feel more comfortable walking in for the first time.
- Conduct an inspection. Home inspections are typically inexpensive, at least compared to the consequences of not conducting one. Consider hiring a professional home inspector and make note of any issues they spot. You don’t have to fix every little thing, but you should definitely fix anything that might get worse over time.
- Thoroughly check all appliances and systems. While you’re at it, thoroughly check all appliances and systems in the home. Your tenants are going to be quite upset if the refrigerator doesn’t work, or if the heat doesn’t turn on.
- Conduct routine maintenance. You should have a regular maintenance schedule for your property. But depending on when you last conducted maintenance, this stretch of vacancy could be a prime opportunity to take care of some of these tasks.
- Consider upgrades and improvements. Similarly, this is an opportunity to make upgrades and improvements. You don’t need to invest a lot of money or completely renovate the property, but even small upgrades, like integrating smart home tech, can make a big impact.
- Prevent pests. You can also take measures to control pests. Spraying for bugs and sealing up holes leading outside can prevent most pest problems later on.
- Patch up the curb appeal. Curb appeal makes a big impact on the sale (or renting) of a home. Make sure you fix any defects or noticeable flaws in the exterior of your home so it’s much more presentable.
- Take photos. Finally, take photos of the entire property, inside and out. You can use these to market the property, but even more importantly, you can use them to illustrate the state of the property when you started renting it to the new tenant.
While you’re at it, review your lease agreement carefully and make sure it’s as concise and clear as possible. You may also want to meet with your tenant before they move in to go over the rules, clarify any misunderstandings about the lease agreement, and welcome them to the neighborhood. While this isn’t strictly necessary, it’s another element in your strategy for preventing problems and starting the relationship on the right foot.
