Landlords must be prepared for vacancies as part of managing a rental apartment. Sometimes, renters may end the lease early or require eviction for failing to uphold their lease agreement.

Preparing your apartment for new tenants is crucial. Before scheduling a property tour, there are a few things you need to do to increase the interest of potential residents.

8 Tips to Prepare Your Rental Property for Rent

1. Post Ads on Several Property Listing Sites

Market a vacant apartment unit quickly. Even without renters, you’ll still incur maintenance fees, such as cleaning, repairs, and utility bills. It’s also easier to keep your apartment safe from intruders when someone is residing in it.

When crafting ads, make sure that your property listing is engaging to draw more interest from potential tenants. Your headlines must be informative and contain the details that renters want to know immediately. Add impressive property photos to make the ad more attractive. 

Let your social network know that you’re seeking renters by sharing the vacancy on social media platforms. You can also ask your current renters to refer people they know for more prospective residents to choose from.

2. Hire Cleaning Specialists

While you can clean your apartment yourself, professional cleaners have specialized equipment and skills to tidy up even the most hard-to-reach corners. If your last tenant left the apartment in disarray, you can charge them cleaning fees. A pristine rental unit leaves an outstanding impression. 

Prepare a checklist for cleaning specialists to focus on areas like:

• Kitchen area: Floors, cabinets, counters, refrigerator, stove, and pantry spaces.
• Bathroom: Bathtub, shower area, toilet, floor, storage spaces, and sink.
• Interiors: Cabinets, furnishings, walls, ceilings, doors, and windows.
• Exteriors: Backyard/front yard, mailbox, outdoor furniture, and trash bins.

3. Install New Door Locks

Ensure the safety of your new renters by rekeying door locks. It is worthwhile to use modern technology to make this task convenient. You can simply reset passcodes without changing keys.

Tenants would also find it stress-free since they don’t need to worry about leaving or forgetting their physical keys. They can simply unlock their doors using their mobile devices with electric locks. 

4. Schedule a Walkthrough Inspection 

Plan a walkthrough inspection with new tenants. Carry a checklist to ensure you don’t miss any tasks. This practice allows you to review the apartment’s current state, compare existing damage, and identify any issues caused by the renter. 

Write down detailed notes of each apartment area and document with pictures or videos that you can show to your renter in the future. You would reduce conflicts by conducting a thorough property inspection before a tenant moves in.

5. Send Damaged Items for Repairs or Replace Them 

With residents in your apartment, it can be challenging to inspect items thoroughly. But when your unit is vacant, you can evaluate items in detail and decide whether repairs or replacement is the next step. Make sure to calculate whether repairs or replacements are necessary based on cost-effectiveness.

You can ask yourself these questions to make the decision:

• Furniture: Is the cost of repair more than replacement?
• Lights: Can you invest in new, modern lighting?
• Smoke detectors and fire alarms: Are they functional, or do they need battery replacements?
• Carpets, curtains, and wallpaper: Can stains be removed, or should they be replaced?
• Doorknobs and windows: Will simple fixes work, or are more durable materials needed?

6. Plan for Renovations

Upgrade your apartment periodically to stay competitive. Proceed with improvement projects without renters to avoid interruptions and noise complaints. 

You can also consider adding amenities for your target market to attract long-term tenants. Possible renovations include repainting, landscaping, adding storage, fixing leaks, and replacing roofing.

7. Resolve Mold Issues 

Mold is a common property issue that you need to fix as soon as you spot it. You want to keep your apartment habitable and hygienic so fix mold issues promptly.

Mold can lead to allergy and respiratory issues so make sure to address it. Regularly inspect areas prone to moisture, such as laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

8. Test Your HVAC Systems

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems must be fully functional to avoid tenant complaints and keep your apartment livable. Damage to these systems can be costly. Regular inspections of plumbing, electrical, and cooling systems help keep costs low. 

Learn to handle property emergency maintenance as well in case urgent cases come up. Some of the tasks you can perform as part of preventive maintenance are replacing broken pipes, cleaning up gutters, conducting drainage and leak inspections, and checking the water pressure.

Bottom Line

Preparing your property for new renters requires effort and time, but it’s essential to reduce complaints, retain loyal tenants, and increase property value. If you need more resources to get your apartment in shape, contact B&R Property Management today!