Giving tenants an amazing rental experience is a great way to get them to renew their leases. Start right by prepping your rental and perfecting move-in day.
How a rental looks upon a tenant moving in tells them a lot about how the rest of their rental experience will be and how well you tend to the property. Prepping your rental shows tenants that you care about their experience and are attentive and responsible. To give your soon-to-be tenants the best rental experience possible, read on to learn how to prepare your rental for new tenants.
Check Appliances and Make Repairs
Your first task is to go through the entire property and make a note of all the appliances and amenities to ensure everything is in working condition. This includes the plumbing and HVAC systems, alarms, sensors, lawn sprinklers, and the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry appliances. Not only are you ensuring a great first impression, but fixing any issues beforehand means you won’t have to deal with maintenance requests later.
Deep Clean the Property
A clean home is one of the best ways to welcome a tenant to your rental property and gives a fantastic first impression. Getting rid of stains, foul odors, clutter, and garbage is a non-negotiable step in prepping your rental. No one wants to deal with a dirty home on move-in day; it’s added stress, unnecessary, and tells tenants that you don’t care about the property. You may also consider giving things a fresh coat of paint after cleaning so everything looks more vibrant and seamless.
Change the Locks
While you may have gotten the keys back from the previous tenant, it’s best practice to change the locks. You never know if the previous tenant made a copy without your consent, and it helps tenants feel safer overall. This also includes changing the garage code or any alarm codes.
Spruce Up the Exterior
When preparing your rental for a new tenant, don’t forget that the outside can be just as important as the inside. While you don’t have to have an overflowing garden and lavish topiaries, trimming the lawn, trees, and shrubs makes the home look more kempt and shows tenants you care about the details. Additionally, consider cleaning mold and algae buildup that stains the outside walls, and paint over any remnants.
Conduct a Tenant Walk-Through
While you should conduct a walkthrough before move-in day, set up an allotted time to complete an additional walkthrough with your tenant. You can both go through the property and determine whether everything is up to standard and in working order. You can also provide a form for them to sign that shows you’re all on the same page about the property’s condition, overall forming a stronger and more trustworthy tenant-landlord relationship.
