You have occupancies to fill, but you also have a lot to do in between tenants. So where do you start?
Before the tenant officially moves out, make sure to notify them of a scheduled walk-through. This allows you to go through the property after they’ve moved out their items. You can then get a clearer picture of how the property was maintained. You can see if they have items still on the property, if the flooring or walls are damaged or if there are any other issues that need to be addressed.
You can get a good idea of what might be deducted from the security deposit and what projects you may need to have addressed before a new tenant moves in. Just make sure you’re knowledgeable about the laws regarding what you can and can’t deduct from the security deposit. After everything is taken care of and your tenant is officially moved out. You can start your projects.
Give the place new paint
A good place to start is with a fresh coat of paint. It’s amazing what a new coat of paint can do to a space. It can give it new life and make the place look less lived in. Something you want when potential tenants are doing walkthroughs.
Make necessary repairs
You’ll need to take care of any maintenance issues as well. Make sure that any needed repairs are handled prior to a new tenant moving in. Check for leaks and other potential problems that can be addressed before someone is living there. Maybe you need new flooring because of a stain on the carpet or a cabinet needs to be fixed, for example.
Protect tenants
Take measures to keep your tenants safe by putting new batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure to test them to ensure they’re still fully functional. In addition, before a new tenant comes into the property, you’ll want to change out the locks.
Clean the property thoroughly
Make sure the property is thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. The flooring should look like new. The bathroom and kitchen should be sparkling. And, there shouldn’t be any dust that the eye can see.
Make the exterior look good
Don’t just focus on indoor maintenance. Remember that the exterior also matters. If you have a multi-unit then you are probably already managing this to ensure that you keep up a great appearance. If it’s a single unit, maybe this is something you typically have the tenant manage. In this case, you need to ensure the landscaping is pristine before showing the property. You want to make a great first impression.
Take care of any property that’s left behind
There are a lot of steps to take in between tenants. And, sometimes it can get even more complicated. For example, when a tenant leaves some of their property behind. When this happens, you need to make sure you follow any applicable laws so you don’t get yourself into trouble. There may be laws regarding what you can do with the property and how much time the previous tenant has to pick it up. You need to make sure that you’re aware of your legal duties as you proceed.
If trash and perishables are left behind, toss them. If it’s an automobile, you can typically have that towed by the authorities. If it’s furniture or other property, then you’ll probably need to go through a few steps, including trying to get in touch with the tenant to find out if they plan to pick it up. If you need to store the property somewhere and are charged to do so, keep records of what you pay.
There are a lot of things to be done in between tenants. But, don’t worry. When you partner with us, we can help things go as smoothly as possible. Visit our website today: https://www.propertymanagementinc.com/.
