Vacancies are inevitable in the world of rental property. When a tenant plans to not renew their lease, you are faced with a challenge — getting the place move-in ready in as little time as possible. After all, as long as the property remains vacant, your investment is not making you money.
This article explores 6 tips for getting your property ready for a new tenant.
1. Complete a Walk-Through
Your first step after a tenant moves out should always be to do a walkthrough of the property. Take a close look at the inside and the outside. This is your opportunity to write down anything you see that needs to be addressed— whether repaired, removed, or replaced.
2. Clean Thoroughly
Cleaning is a large part of getting the property ready. Do not just stick to the surfaces, but rather clean things like the kitchen appliances, underneath the bathroom sink, baseboards, and beyond.
Sometimes it helps to have professional cleaners handle the task to get you the greatest outcome. Not only are they experienced in getting property move-in ready for new tenants, but they can properly handle places that are in terrible condition as well as those that need a simple deep cleaning.
3. Check Lights, Outlets, and Appliances
New tenants are going to expect the lights and appliances to work when they move in. Use this time to double-check that everything is in working order. Walk through the property testing switches, outlets, and lightbulbs as you go. If needed, replace bulbs.
Appliances need to be checked, too. This includes running the dishwasher and making sure the refrigerator is cold with a functioning ice maker. Turn the oven on, run the garbage disposal, and don’t forget to test the HVAC system.
Anything that doesn’t seem to be working properly should be taken care of before move-in.
4. Replace Batteries in Smoke Detectors
To keep your new tenants safe and reduce any hazards, replace the batteries in all the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the property. Once you do, you will want to test them to confirm that they are working properly in case of an emergency.
5. Address Walls and Flooring
To keep your rental property looking its best, it is always a good idea to give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Stick to neutral colors as using bold colors can be a turn-off to some tenants. What’s more, the floors need to be in good shape. While hard floors often last a long time, you may want to consider replacing carpeting for a fresh start.
Have the floors professionally cleaned before your new tenants move in.
6. Change the Locks
To address any safety or security concerns, you always want to change the locks before a new tenant moves in. Not only will this reduce your liability risk, but it will also ensure that only those who are authorized have access to the property.
If you have a keyless entry, reset the code upon move-out.
Let Us Help You Get Your Property Ready
Being a landlord is a great way to earn passive income, but it can be a lot of work when a vacancy arises. With Virginia Property Management Group, we have a team that can get your rental ready to go quickly — and we offer tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, marketing, and more!
We are your trusted property management partner in Northern Virginia. Contact us to get started.