When you’ve finally found a great tenant to move in, it’s exciting. You can fill that occupancy and move forward. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind as you do. There are some essential steps to take before the tenant officially moves in.
Get the property ready
Of course, one of the first things you need to do is make sure the property is actually ready for tenants. Many of these steps you can take immediately after the last tenant moved out.
You’ll want to make sure the property is cleaned from top to bottom. That means wiping down appliances, windows, and vents. It means making sure that every space from behind the fridge to inside the closets is spotless. Everything should look like new.
Other than just cleaning, you’ll also need to be sure everything is in working order. Check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the plumbing, and the HVAC system. Make sure that everything is up to code and functioning properly.
If you’re in charge of the utilities for the property, make sure that they’re on before the tenant moves in. You don’t want your new tenant to be calling the first day asking why the electricity isn’t working.
Sign the lease
Before the tenant moves anything in, you’ll both need to sign a thorough lease. This lease should cover every essential detail and describe both of your responsibilities. Make sure to verbally go over the important points with the tenant before they sign. You want to make sure they have a good understanding of what they’re agreeing to. Also, reiterate what the cost of rent is, when it’s due, and what the process is for submitting it. Don’t forget to get the security deposit during this time and you may also ask for the first month’s rent as well or this could be given upon final move-in.
Send a welcome letter
Start off your tenant-landlord relationship on a good foot by sending a welcome letter ahead of time. Provide details to help them know the steps for move in. If they need to set up their utilities, make sure they have that information. Remind them again about how rental payments are handled. Let them know how to reach you. Provide them with your office hours, if you have them. If you do set office hours, let them know that you will still respond to emergencies 24/7. Give them information on where they should park. Also, send them a nudge about the importance of getting rental insurance (if it’s required, make sure that they’re aware of this as well).
Complete a move-in checklist
While you should go through the apartment when a tenant moves out, it’s equally important to walk through the apartment before a tenant moves in. You want to ensure everything is in working order, as mentioned above. It’s also a good idea to have your tenant walk through the property and complete a move-in checklist. This is something you can do together, which is the ideal option, or something you can send to the tenant. If you send it to the tenant, make sure to give a date for which they need to have it sent back to you.
What should be included on a move-in checklist?
A move-in checklist should cover all of the rooms, including the living room, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, bedroom, and even the entryway. You may also want to include a section about the porch and garage. Each space may have different breakdown points that you want to be covered such as the walls, floor, ceiling, doors, windows, blinds, lights, cabinets, sink, windows, counters, or toilet.
In addition to breaking down the checklist by room, you can also break it down by specific appliances, if they’re included, such as the refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. Each appliance will have different breakdown points as well. For example, a fridge may include how the outside looks and if the light is functioning. The stove may mention the burners, vent, and controls. The dishwasher may have a mention about the controls and the drawers inside. It’s really up to you how detailed you want this move-in checklist to be. You can even include a blank space at the bottom for additional instructions. If your tenant does find an issue, be sure to address it promptly.
As you know, there are many steps to take after you find the right tenant for your property, but taking these steps can help ensure things go smoother. If you’d like assistance with your rental property, please reach out to us at PMI: Property Management Inc.. We have years of experience and will be happy to help keep your property maintained and your tenants satisfied. Simply put, we can make your job easier.
