If you’re in rental property management (regardless of whether you’re the landlord or you’re just managing property for someone else), the best time for doing improvements is in between tenants. But of course, you want to do it in a way that won’t cost you too much money.
In this industry, this is thought of as more of a strategy than anything else.
If you've already found the next tenant, until their move, you might have a perfect amount of time to prepare the home according to their needs or to simply elevate it. Thinking ahead and organizing the whole process will save you from further headaches and issues that seem to arise in the first few weeks after a lease.
An Important notice here is that this move-in preparation doesn't only involve cleaning – it's specifically about checking major systems, safety checks, and further planning. This has to do with the fact that this gets often overlooked, simply because they don't stand out like a smudge on the wall – you have to know what you’re looking for and you have to know what you’re doing.
Plus, following these steps will help you keep a record of the property's condition before moving in.
Having a house that brings comfort through safety and cleanliness will ensure you a long-term tenant, who’ll most likely tend to look after it the same way.
Getting the Property Ready Before a New Tenant Moves In
As mentioned above, before the new tenant moves in, going through a few main steps ensures that the property is in good condition.
Something that seemed small and not worthwhile with previous tenants or when you lived there should be fixed firsthand. Avoiding potential issues and problems might be the most efficient way of thinking.
Also, preparing the space to move in, which goes with protecting surfaces around the home, will leave a good first impression.
So, here are a few steps that may help you in this stage of renting.
Inspect, Repair, Clean
Even though these seem quite obvious, many tend to underestimate their importance. If you don't follow these orders, you might find yourself in a position where everything is clean, and just then, some overlooked issues arise.
Firstly, you should inspect each existing system.
Start with plumbing, electric outlets, and HVAC systems.
These tend to be the messiest and hardest to reach, plus they’re the major moneysinks if there ARE problems. Add to that, the smallest issues, such as leaks and/or damaged floors, could be hiding MUCH bigger problems.
Secondly, come the basic repairs and renewals. Checking appliances, windows, and replacing consumables, such as lightbulbs. Under repair, some also include repainting and fixing loose parts.
The goal is to, with thorough inspection, prevent further emergency repairs and for future residents to have a fully practical home.
Finally, comes cleaning, as the last step after certain work is done. Making a home ready and fresh requires deep cleaning of kitchen cabinets, bathroom, floor, and sometimes even furniture if there is any.
Functionality is achieved through regular maintenance.
Ensuring Safety and Property Access
According to the regulations of the US there are few safety steps to assure both sides resident owners, as well as, tenants.
So, working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are considered part of the home necessities.
Another safety tip is to replace door locks or choose key locks to reduce the chance of someone who used to live there barging into the residence. Investing in safety alarms will contribute to tenants' satisfaction and safety.
Spare a few minutes, and pre-test lockouts and systems to prevent possible inconveniences.
Also, prepare all needed codes, keys, and remotes.
Prepare for Moving Day
As you are getting closer to the tenant moving in, you should cover some basics to ensure everything goes well.
Prior to the moving day, start by ensuring driveways and entrances are easily accessible. And, if residence is part of the apartment building, you should check the building's policy, addressing specific hours for moving and elevator booking.
While inside, you should protect floors, door frames, or any additional sections that will be exposed. Temporary floor covers, or corner protections, are just one way to reduce the risk of damage.
On that note, if you want to additionally secure the building and your residence, you can demand that tenants use licensed movers. If someone is a first-time mover, there are many mistakes and unfortunate problems that may occur.
So to spare yourself guessing their experience, reliable moving companies are a better choice. Experienced moving companies such as Peachtree Movers are trained to minimize the risk of damage and shield the property as well as the clients' stuff and to handle moving in different environments.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that preparing the property before the new move-in is key to avoiding later problems.
You can think about the above-mentioned steps as a sort of strategy for providing long-term functionality.
And using that time before moving in as a perfect opportunity to make sure everything works.
By making space liveable from the day they move in, you are not only protecting the residence, but you are also making your relationship with tenants more pleasant, as they won't have any unusual complaints.
With clean space and good organization, a more positive start is ensured for everyone involved.
