Before you can land new tenants, you have to get your property rent-ready. You are more likely to find long-term tenants who will take good care of your rental property if it’s in its best condition. You can also demand higher rents if your property has a good appearance and amenities.
To do this your property needs to be cleaned and well-maintained. Once the property is ready, you need to start the marketing process and conduct showings to prospective tenants.
DeSantis Property Management has prepared the following tips to help you get your rental property ready for new tenants:
Clean the Rental Completely
The simplest and perhaps most crucial thing you can do to get your house ready for rent is clean it. Your rental’s cleanliness leaves a lasting impression on prospective tenants when they tour it.
The house should be tidy when the tenants move in as well so that they can get a better understanding of how clean they’re expected to keep the place. Tenants must leave a rental home in the same condition that they found it minus natural wear and tear.
Given how crucial cleanliness is, you should be sure to thoroughly clean the entire home, paying special attention to the areas that are often overlooked or more prone to dirt build-up. Work top to bottom when cleaning the rental and prepare and list of areas to pay special attention to in each room. You won't have to constantly go back to get what you missed in this manner.
If you lack the time or skills to conduct this kind of thorough cleaning job, consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
Change the Locks and Rekey the Rental
You must change the locks for security reasons before the new tenant moves into the rental. The property must only be accessed by the new renters. Every time you switch tenants, you must complete this important task to ensure their safety.
New locks must be fitted, and keys must be replaced. You should give this a high priority. You can even invest in electronic locks to make it simpler as the passwords can be easily changed rather than rekeying each time.
Conduct Necessary Repairs
A landlord's main responsibility should be ensuring that a property is secure and functional. Renovations and repairs should be made swiftly and frequently because if left unaddressed they could become larger and more costly.
It’s your responsibility to make a home risk-free when getting it ready to rent by completing the required repairs. Inspect the home's plumbing, electric, HVAC, and other systems to ensure that they are in working order. You should also replace any appliances and fixtures that are dated.
If you have the budget to perform larger-scale renovations opt for convenient designs and materials. For example, dark colors for flooring and counters don't reveal stains and scratches as much as lighter finishes.
The most crucial factor to keep in mind when performing maintenance and upgrades is that your property complies with all legal safety and habitability criteria.
Ensure that HVAC Systems Work
As a landlord, you have a responsibility of providing a safe and habitable space. To meet that requirement, you must provide a working HVAC system. If you have the experience, you can perform regular checks on the system. If not, consider hiring a reputable management company or HVAC specialist.
Eliminate Mold
Growing mold is an unsettling sight. Mold commonly shows up in areas where moisture collects. Therefore, keep a close eye on the bathroom, around washers/dryers, windows, and basements. Make sure to complete the necessary remediation should mold be present before marketing the property to potential tenants.
Ensuring that your apartment is mold-free is vital as it can harm people's health and create an uninhabitable space. If you’re not sure what to look for, hiring a specialist to inspect the property is could provide you with more peace of mind.
Provide Wanted Amenities
In a competitive market, renters are quite selective. You need to make sure your property gives off the right impression and stays competitive.
Consider purchasing some new, contemporary furniture and energy-efficient appliances if your apartment comes completely furnished. If the property has a yard, prioritize curb appeal by cutting the grass and installing some new planters to give it an inviting appearance.
Ensure to Tidy the Garden
Your garden should be kept clean and organized when getting ready to rent out your home. If you’re looking to add plants and shrubs to spruce up the property’s exterior, ensure that it’s easy to maintain, especially if you’ll be expecting the tenant to share in the yard maintenance work.
Simply adding a couple of planters with nice flowers can enhance the curb appeal by adding a pop of color, all while being easy to maintain.
Promote Your Property on Various Listing Websites
Find a pool of potential customers by using both traditional and online channels. Speak with your contacts and post flyers to local bulletin boards to advertise vacancies or place rental ads on social media and listing sites. Include eye-catching photographs with your posts to further draw in potential tenants. Highlight your rental's best and most distinctive qualities.
From there, plan property showings for interested prospects so they can get a better feel for the space.
Bottom Line
With these tips, you’ll be able to get your property ready for rent. If you need help with this or any other aspect of property management consider working with the team at DeSantis Property Management.
Our objective is to relieve the strain of self-management and guarantee high returns on your investment. If you work with us, whether you’re a local or out-of-state property owner, you can relax knowing that your properties are in capable hands.
We at DeSantis Property Management make sure that our clients and their tenants can easily contact us. Get in touch with us right away so we can learn more about your investment objectives and assist you in realizing them!
