The condition of your rental greatly affects whether it’s ready for occupancy or not. To remain competitive, you need to make your rental unit appealing to tenants. This includes fixing any known problems, complying with your local zoning laws, and upgrading the property to make it more enticing, comfortable, or aesthetically pleasing.
From the foundation to the roof, check to make sure everything is working and that your property meets municipal and state housing codes. It is better to tackle renovations before a tenant moves in for safety reasons and to avoid coordinating improvements around their schedule.
- Potential issues that may be necessary to make sure your property is rent-ready:
- Check all appliances to make sure they work, including the oven, dishwasher, and washer or dryer
- Test smoke detectors and CO2 detectors
- Repair any problems, such as holes, water leaks, pests, etc.
- Give the walls a facelift with a fresh coat of paint
- Replace or clean flooring
- Upgrade fixtures and/or window treatments
- Clean each room thoroughly, including hard-to-reach spaces, such as cabinets and other storage areas
- If you have steps or stairs in the unit, ensure they are strong and safe to use
- Hire a professional to check that all electricity, heating, and plumbing are working properly
- Ensure that doors, gates, and windows have working locks
- Eliminate any bad odors
- Landscape front and back yards, gardens, etc.
Above all, your rental property must be safe for a tenant.
Should I Hire a Property Manager?
By now it is clear that managing a rental property can be hard work. You must be available to your tenants in case of any problems or emergencies, as well as take care of the day-to-day landlord tasks, such as collecting rent and paying property bills.
- A property manager is an individual or firm who is hired to oversee and manage a rental property and its tenants. They are actively involved with the property and perform tasks such as:
- Screening tenants and negotiating lease terms
- Discussing leasing and property rules with a tenant
- Collecting rent or other fees
- Arranging for repairs, maintenance, and upkeep
- Paying bills, assisting with taxes, and managing a budget
- Enforcing rental rules and policies
- Setting rental rates and advertising the property
- Issuing notices
- Handling move-in and move-out inspections
- Recordkeeping
- A property manager handles all these responsibilities and more.
Want to get your life back?
Give us a call at (724) 847-2728 to get a free consultation about your rental property!