Managing a rental property can feel overwhelming when your tenants move out. This is where you will race against time to get the place ready for new occupants. In the meantime, you will also have to handle a mountain of other tasks. Continue reading below, as you can make tenant turnover smooth and stress-free, along with other valuable tips on managing a rental property efficiently.
Preparing Your Rental for New Tenants: Cleaning and Repairs
First impressions matter a lot for any tenant. This is why you need to keep your rental unit sparkling clean. It will help you attract the best tenants fast. Let's explore how you can do it.
Deep Clean Every Room
You can start off by deep cleaning every room. Surface cleaning isn't enough; you need to get into those corners and areas behind appliances. You will also need to scrub bathroom tiles until they shine. Cleaning inside cabinets and drawers is essential as well.
Check Your Appliances
Next, you need to test all your appliances to see if they are in working condition. They include the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and washer-dryer combo. If any appliance is not running smoothly, you need to repair or replace it, even burnt-out light bulbs.
Tackle the Repairs
You can focus on repairs after that. Make sure to fix leaky faucets and running toilets right away because these issues waste both water and money. If there are holes in the walls, you need to patch them. Applying a new coat of paint can help you to refresh the look.
Replace HVAC Filters
You should also ensure that the heating and cooling systems are working properly. Replacing the filter is something that you should never forget, and you need to test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Even if the batteries have some juice left, you need to replace them.
Taking care of all these activities on your own can be challenging. That’s where the help of a property manager becomes useful. Owners who work with Atlanta property managers often enjoy higher lease renewal rates and longer tenant retention. That's mainly because of the amount of effort they put into taking good care of the property.
If a Tenant Leaves Belongings Behind: How to Handle and Organize Them?
Tenants leave their stuff behind most of the time. Landlords should know the proper steps to take if a tenant leaves belongings behind. This is where you need to follow the specific laws in your state about abandoned property. You need to be familiar with the laws to make sure that you don't do anything wrong. Here are some general guidelines on how you can handle abandoned items.
Document everything
You need to document all the abandoned items and take notes. Make sure to take pictures of each item from multiple angles. You will also need to write down detailed descriptions and approximate values. It is better if you can mention details on where you found each piece as well. This will help you ensure your legal protection in the event of disputes later.
Contact the tenants
Next, you need to get in touch with the tenants who left the items behind. You can simply send them a written notice via certified mail. In the notice, clearly explain what they left behind. You should also include a deadline for them to come back and collect their belongings. However, you should set a reasonable deadline, and it can be around 15 to 30 days after receiving the notice.
Store the items safely
During the waiting period, you need to store all tenant belongings safely. This is where you can think about using your garage space. If that is not enough, you can use a temporary storage unit and ensure to keep everything organized and labeled. What should you do if the tenants don't respond? This is where you can sell the valuable items to cover your admin expenses. You may also donate usable items to local charities and dispose of everything else.
Maintaining a Positive Rental Experience: Communication and Move-Out Tips
Good communication can make everything easier. This is why you need to start the move-out conversation early. You can do that around 60 days before the move-out date, which will give you enough time to prepare. Here's how you should maintain communication during move-out.
Schedule a Pre-Move-Out Checklist
You can schedule a date to conduct the move-out checklist and walk through the property together. By doing this, you can point out all issues that need attention. Tenants will then be able to fix their minor issues without losing their security deposits.
Provide a Detailed Move-Out Checklist
Secondly, you need to list everything that you expect tenants to do before leaving. You can include tasks such as cleaning appliances and removing all trash. When you set up clear expectations, you will be leaving less room for confusion.
Be Fair About the Security Deposit
You should only deduct for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear. For example, small nail holes that are left behind from hanging pictures should be considered as normal wear. You can consider a broken window or a damaged countertop as deductible damage.
Stay Professional
Sometimes things get tense during turnovers, but you need to remain professional at all times. This is where you need to keep all your emotions in check and document everything in writing and with photos.
Final Words
Managing tenant turnover doesn't have to drain your time and energy. With proper preparation and clear communication, you can turn a stressful process into a routine operation. Always keep in mind that every tenant turnover is an excellent opportunity to upgrade your property and adjust your rental market rates.
