When your rental property is vacant, you want it filled as soon as possible to keep the rent coming in. But you also want the best possible tenant. When a rental home is not ready to be shown, or the rent is set too high for the market, it delays the leasing process, turns off prospective tenants, and hurts your cash flow. It is critical that your property be ready to make a good impression. After more than 35 years in this business, Specialized Property Management Tampa understands the rent-ready process.
When you follow these simple steps, prospective tenants are more likely to see your rental property as a place they can call home.
- Assess the proper’s curb appeal from the street as if you are a potential tenant. An unattractive first impression can prevent prospective renters from ever viewing the home.
- Walkthrough and note needed maintenance and repairs, especially safety and security items, but for cosmetic issues as well. Running or leaking plumbing, broken windows, mold, ineffective door locks, et cetera, all put you and your tenant at risk.
- Rekey the property to prevent safety concerns protect you from liability and ensure simple, secure access. This is also required by law in many areas.
- Check appliances to ensure they are in working order and clean, including the water heater, air conditioner, and heater.
- If remodeling, cleaning, or major work is needed don’t market and show the property while under construction. It’s difficult for tenants to see what a home might look like.
- Remove any personal belongings anywhere on the property, attic, crawlspace, garage, and storage shed. Anything you leave behind can expose you to liability.
- Paint, any non-neutral colored walls, a neutral color, do not touch up paint completely and do not leave paint. behind for tenants to use.
- Remember to keep utilities on until the tenant moves in. The goal is to create a home. The prospective tenant can happily imagine themselves living in, so don’t leave them in the dark.
- Make sure the home is well lit and has a comfortable temperature. Have the home professionally cleaned and clean up after any handyperson or maintenance crew has completed any work.
- Upkeep the property during a vacancy, including lawn care, landscaping, watering, pest control, and routine weekly cleanings.
- Install a lockbox. This allows leasing agents to securely owe the property to prospective tenants while reflecting professionalism, the property remains secure yet accessible.
- Determine an appropriate rent amount for the market, area, property condition, and type, so you quickly attract a sufficient number of interested applicants. A rent rate set too high will result in a longer vacancy time, which can quickly eat away at the profit for which you are striving.
Put simply the more attractive the property, the easier it is to lease it quickly to the most reliable tenant possible. If you are looking for a property management company in Tampa to assist in getting your rental home rent ready, the experts at Specialized Property Management Tampa can help you do more for less fast. Put our experience team and proven process to work for you.
