Tips When Preparing Your Home for New Tenants
Nowadays, more and more people are interested in the idea of investing in rental properties. Although there are definitely many benefits to enjoy, such as extra income, you have to consider that in order to experience these, you must ensure that your property is in good condition and fully secured. You don’t want your future tenants to be complaining just because you forgot something. That said, here are some of the useful tips on how to prepare your property before a new tenant moves in.
- Perform a Home Inspection
While your property is empty, this would be the perfect time to thoroughly inspect and perform repairs on major problems. Check if there are any leaks, clogged gutters, and burnt out light bulbs. Aside from that, inspect the floors as well to make sure they’re sound.
- Don’t Forget to Check the Locks
Before a new tenant moves in you should change your locks OR ,at the very minimum, make it a point that the previous renters have returned all the keys. This is very important to ensure the safety of your new tenant and to protect you from possible liabilities as well. You don’t want your old tenant having access to the property anymore, and so, better invest in a new lock to avoid any issues. 
- A General Cleanup Is a Must
You don’t want to turn off your potential buyer just because your place is dirty. To prevent that, make sure that you have cleaned the blinds, windows, and floors. The carpets must be shampooed to remove the stains and the walls should be repainted to a neutral color.
- Evaluate the Furnishings and Appliances
Cleanliness doesn’t only apply to the property itself, but the furnishings and appliances too. In case you have valuable fixtures or furnishings that you don’t want to get damaged or stolen, you have to make sure to remove them before the tenant moves in. In case you’re proving a furnished home, then see to it that everything is working the way it should. 
Additionally, if the appliances are also provided, check if they’re cleaned inside and out. Keep in mind, although a fully-furnished property would definitely attract a lot of customers, it can also cost you in repairs and maintenance 
- Make Sure That You Also Perform the Following:
– Deep cleaning will set the standard of your rental property. So make sure you don’t skip this.
– The wood-burning fireplaces should be inspected and cleaned
– Make sure that all toilets are working, and replace the flappers if needed.
– The smoke detectors should have fresh batteries– this will save you from a lot of trouble.
– All light bulbs should be working.
– Get landlord insurance.
– To make your new tenant feel more welcomed, you should consider preparing a “Welcome to my Home” letter that contains the basics regarding home care.
Final Words
Without a doubt, renting out a property can be a lucrative source of income. We hope that these preparation tips will help you ensure that your place is ready to welcome its new occupants and help you have a pleasant experience from there on.
