Preparing your rental property for the market is an important first-step in leasing the home to outstanding residents. If you’re like many landlords, you’re in a hurry to get it advertised, find a tenant, and have rent coming in. That’s understandable. But, to ensure you get the best results and have a successful investment experience, you need to spend some time preparing the property.
We have a checklist for that.
1. Create Some Curb Appeal that Attracts Potential Renters
You understand the power of first impressions. This extends to your rental property, and you want to attract the attention of highly qualified residents quickly. The best way to do this is with great advertising and with fantastic curb appeal. Make your Temecula rental property look as appealing and inviting as possible.
Evaluate the home’s exterior, and if you think it can benefit from fresh paint or a quick power wash, get to work on those things. Make sure the lawn is mowed and well-landscaped. Remove any debris or trash bins. Clean out the gutters and trim back the tree branches. Make sure there isn’t any overgrowth that’s covering the windows. Check the exterior lighting and make sure the front door is clean, free of cobwebs, and welcoming.
If you’re renting out a multi-family property, make sure the common areas are clean and inviting. If the front of your property doesn’t look great, your prospective tenants won’t bother going in to see it.
2. Inspect for Repair Issues
Everything in the property has to be safe and functioning properly. As you walk through the home while getting it ready for the rental market, check the following for any necessary repairs:
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
Appliances
Faucets, toilets, and tubs
Condition of floors, walls, ceilings, stairs
Electrical outlets
Irrigation or sprinklers
If anything is broken or worn, you need to repair or replace it before you list the home and begin welcoming prospective tenants into the home to look around. Don’t try to make assurances that you’ll fix something before they move in. Make sure everything is in great condition now.
3. Consider Updates and Upgrades to Remain Competitive
A clean and well-maintained home is a great starting point when you’re preparing it for the rental market.
The next step is to check out the competition and make sure you’re offering what they’re offering. Be willing to invest in minor and cost-effective updates and upgrades like hard surface flooring, new appliances, fresh paint, and high quality window treatments. Good tenants will compare what your home offers to all the others they’re looking at. Make sure you’re memorable.
4. Cleanliness is Critical
An extremely clean property is essential if you want to rent it quickly to great tenants for the most amount of rent. No one wants to live in another person’s dirt and mess. Hire a professional cleaning team to really scrub the home from top to bottom and give it the attention to detail that it needs before you put it on the market.
Dust the ceiling fans, make sure the hardware in the bathrooms and kitchen sparkle, and pull the appliances out from the walls to dust and vacuum under and behind them. Pay special attention to the floors, and make sure you’re able to keep the home clean during the showing and application process.
If you take care of these items, you’re ready to take some good marketing photos for your online ads and put your rental property on the market.
At Management One Professionals, we are eager to help you with the leasing process. Contact our team for additional information or answers to any of your questions.
Management One Professionals provides single-family and condo landlords, rental property owners, and real estate investors expert property management services throughout the Temecula Valley, including Temecula, Murrieta, Winchester, Wildomar, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and other surrounding cities.
