Thinking of leasing your home this year? Now is the best time! There are some smart moves you can make before you list your property to ease the process of renting your home.
- Bring in a handyman. Have repairs made to leaky faucets, torn screens, broken door or window locks and handles, faulty electrical outlets, drywall damage, missing grout or caulking, broken sprinkler heads, rotten wood and anything else that would give a potential renter reason to wonder, “What else is wrong with this house?” Just because you were able to live with it when you were living in the property, does not mean your tenant can, or should.
- Clean out storage spaces. Closet by closet, cabinet by cabinet, and drawer by drawer, get rid of personal items. Should you decide to leave personal items in the property for resident use, you will be required to repair or replace them. This includes cleaning supplies.
- Go for a minimalist look so that renters can see the bones of the house and not have to move or look around decorative items to see the home.
- Have the exterior pressure-cleaned. Make sure to include the roof, patios, porches, driveway and walkways.
- Spruce up the landscaping. First impressions are everything. You want renters to want to come inside and not drive on by. Increase your curb appeal by trimming shrubbery and trees, putting down fresh mulch and planting some annuals. Plus, the better kept your lawn, the better the tenant will maintain it.
- Perform a deep cleaning. Hire a professional cleaning company to tackle everything from the ceiling fans to the baseboards, including cleaning inside and behind kitchen appliances, the dryer vent, and inside cabinets and drawers, and blinds.
- Put on a fresh coat of paint. At least touch up scuff marks, but if your home is painted in bold or dark colors, consider repainting to neutral shades. Keep in mind, even if you touch up areas, the paint may not match evenly and touch ups can be very noticeable and unappealing.
- Check for smells. We become immune to smells we are around every day. Have someone come in to check for odors from pets, mildew, mold or smoke.
- Have a professional pest control company complete a general pest spray on the property as well as a Bed Bug Inspection. This is usually a requirement with a property manager, but if you have a record of the general pest spray (tenants will be responsible moving forward) and a Certified Bed Bug Free Certificate, this will help you document for future reference.
- Ditto for mold testing. If you have any reason to believe there may be mold or water damage lurking behind walls, under flooring or in the attic, go ahead and address it now.
- Make sure your property is Move In Ready!
- Contact me for more information on renting your home, I would love the opportunity to talk with you about your plans.
