Preparing Your Home to Be a Rental
Personal Property
Personal property in the home or on the grounds is considered part of the lease, and therefore available for tenant use. This includes refrigerators, washer/dryer, lawnmowers. You as a landlord must not only allow for tenant use, but also must maintain these items in workable condition. As such, your rental property can not double as your own storage space, and you should not leave any personal property that is not intended for tenant use, or that you do not intend to maintain in workable condition. Clearing out nonessential clutter will improve the appearance of the property for advertising photos and will make it look better for showings.
Cleaning
You may need to hire professional carpet cleaners and a house cleaning service to get the work done in a reasonable time. Dust, dirty windows, and soiled carpeting will turn off responsible tenants and tarnish your reputation. An immaculate home will produce a positive first impression, attract the best renters, provide the highest rent, and will be easier to evaluate when the tenants move out.
Curb Appeal
Your property should be as attractive from the road, and minor inexpensive cosmetic touch-ups will enhance your property. Clean out the weeds from the flowerbeds and fence line, and mow/trim the grass.
Maintenance
Try to imagine looking at your home for the first time. Would you want to live there? Are there curling shingles on the roof, leaking faucets, or peeling wallpaper? Make sure that the appliances, heating and ventilation systems, and plumbing fixtures check out and are clean.
Property Evaluations
The easiest way to make sure your property is rent-ready is to hire a property management company to do an evaluation to ensure that your rental house is ready for new residents and all aspects are up to code. Your local Real Property Management office can perform this evaluation for you. Or, as part of our property management agreement, we also perform evaluations upon move in, regular evaluations twice per year once residents have moved in, and a final evaluation when your residents move out.
Landlord Insurance
Your rental property is an important investment and source of income. If damage occurs, your home may become uninhabitable. Landlord insurance coverage helps provide an income while the property is being repaired or rebuilt. You can add policies or riders to pay for debris removal, tree and plant replacement, and even fire department charges.
Real Property Management is the nation’s leading property management business. We wrote the book on how to turn a property into a viable and reliable source of income; it is what we do. Learn more about how you can protect your investment while maximizing your return.