Ensuring Your Rental Property is Ready for New Tenants

As the peak rental season is in full swing, competition is heating up between landlords and renters who are both trying to secure the best situation possible. As a landlord, one of the key aspects you must pay attention to is ensuring your property stands out from the rest in this highly competitive market. The secret to achieving this is to ensure your property is ready for renters before you even list it on any platform.
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Assessing the Property from the Renter's Perspective

One of the first steps you should take is to put yourself in the shoes of potential renters. This involves conducting a thorough walkthrough of your property. This is an opportunity for you to identify any issues that might not be immediately obvious when you're not actively looking for them. Pay close attention to things like peeling paint, broken tiles, or leaky faucets. These are the types of issues that potential tenants will notice and could potentially turn them away from your property.
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Addressing Issues and Making Upgrades Where Necessary

Once you've identified all the potential issues, the next step is to address them. Fix any visible flaws such as cracks in the wall or floor, outdated appliances, and old window coverings. It's important to remember that these upgrades do more than just increase the attractiveness of your property to potential renters. They also increase its overall rental value, which means you can ask for a higher rent in return.
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Detailed To-Do List for Each Room

• Exterior: The exterior of your property is the first thing potential tenants will see. Therefore, it's vital that it's in the best possible condition. This includes maintaining the landscaping, cleaning the exterior surfaces, and inspecting windows, siding, and chimneys for any potential damage.
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• Living/Family Room: This is the room where your tenants will likely spend a significant portion of their time. Ensure it's clean and welcoming by cleaning or replacing carpets and window coverings. Also, make sure all lighting fixtures and smoke detectors are in working order.
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• Kitchen/Laundry Room: These are crucial areas that are used for everyday tasks. Test all appliances to ensure they're working correctly and inspect cabinets for any possible damage. Cleanliness is key in these areas, so make sure they're thoroughly cleaned.
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• Bedrooms: Bedrooms should provide a sense of comfort and relaxation. Inspect and clean carpets, windows, and walls. Ensure all storage spaces are in good condition and ready for use.
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• Bathrooms: Bathrooms must be hygienic and fully functional. Any leaks should be fixed immediately, and the entire area should be cleaned thoroughly. If necessary, consider updating fixtures to provide a more modern look and feel.
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Attracting and Selecting the Right Renter

After all the hard work of preparing your property, the final step is to find the right tenant. To do this, it's essential to standardize your application process to ensure fairness and efficiency. Most importantly, conduct thorough background and credit checks on all potential tenants. This is where Clara can step in to help you find reliable renters who will treat your property as if it were their own home. ‍