Date Posted: 2012-06-21 03:33:22
Site Posted: Myproperty.ph
Once the tenant has signed the dotted line on the lease agreement, you now have the day of the signing until before the lease starts to get the place ready. Doing last-minute checks before the tenants move in will not only ensure that they get a unit where everything works and is in good condition; it’s also a good way to safeguard your investment.
Even though you feel that the apartment or condo for rent won’t look better than it did since you prepped it for the showing, it’s still necessary to do a few tests and check-ups to ensure that everything is good to go. These are some of the things that need your attention before the tenant moves his things into the unit.
Clean the unit. No tenant will want to move into a condo or apartment that looks like it was hit by a tornado. Assess the condition in which the last tenant left the property to determine how extensive the cleaning needs to be. A bit of sweeping and mopping up will do if the previous rented was relatively clean. In less-than-ideal circumstances, you may have to get a cleaning crew to do their magic. If the last tenant had a child who turned the walls into his canvas, apply a fresh coat of paint. You should also air out the rental if the occupant owned a pet or was a smoker.
Get rid of infestation. Make sure that you exterminate mice, cockroaches, ants, termites and other infestation. Aside from keeping your tenants from being harmed, this will also prevent your property from being damaged. If you think that simply laying out rat poison or stomping on a few roaches will do it, think again; you never know what may be in the floorboards and walls, so be sure to get a professional exterminator.
Change the lock. Remember to change the lock on the door before the new tenant moves in to ensure their safety. If the previous tenant had held on to his copy of the keys and you neglected to replace the locks, your new tenant is at risk of being burglarized or attacked by the previous one. As an added measure, install a door chain or a deadbolt so the new tenant feels even more secure.
Take care of the small things. If the tenant made a note of some things that you may have missed, such as a busted showerhead or a broken light switch, fix them right away. If you’re renting out the unit with some appliances, be sure to check if they’re working well. Remember to check if safety devices like smoke or carbon monoxide detectors are functioning, too.
Taking these extra steps will let the tenant know that you’re a responsible landlord, and will also prevent further damage to the condo or apartment.
Jillian Cariola, Writer
(cover image by sanja gjenero)
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