Getting Your Property Ready For Listing

Please See our Guidelines Below for Making Your House Rent Ready for New Residents!

As property managers or landlords, we should take several steps to get a property ready for rent. “Rent ready” means the property has been professionally cleaned, repaired, or remodeled and is in rentable condition for new tenants. Keep in mind, most people take care of nice things… the cleaner the better. 🥰

The objective is to minimize the vacancy period of your property. Maximizing the returns on your investment property requires strategic decision-making, with a focus on the competitiveness of the market to effectively position your home. The following “Handyman Checklist” and “Cleaning Checklist” will give you a good idea of things to consider when preparing your home.

To reduce your vacancy time, we take on properties that are rent-ready. Please ensure to follow the list to get your property ready before our inspection date. We can recommend contractors and professional cleaners to get your property ready.

Rent Ready Checklist

• Verify GFCI works properly (if applicable).
• Check all electrical outlets for proper operation, tighten as needed, and covers installed.
• Ensure caulking is good around all water sources (counters, sinks, faucets, tubs, toilets, diverters).
• Check plumbing under sinks for leaks or needed repairs.
• Verify all sink and drain stoppers are installed and working properly.
• Verify all bath and kitchen vent fans work properly.
• Clean / replace microwave vent filters (if applicable).
• Clean / replace furnace filters.
• Schedule furnace or AC service if it has not been done within 12 months
• Install/test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Verify all light bulbs are installed and working.
• Confirm all doors operate properly (bedroom, closet, including kitchen and bathroom closets)
• Bedroom closet doors/sliders operate properly.
• Verify all doors have door stoppers to protect walls.
• Repair and or replace window screens as needed.
• Make sure window locks work properly.
• Make sure window blinds function properly.
• Touch-up paint as needed.

Items that Can be Kept at the house

• Touch-up painting extra paint
• Extra lightbulb
• Extra furnace filter

Items that Need to be Removed from the house

• Furniture
• TV
• TV mount
• Decoration in the house
• Any personal items
• Gardening tools that you don't want to keep
• Lawnmower
• Extra appliances, such as the fridge in the garage - all these will be extra items for owners to repair if broken

Cleaning Rent Ready Checklist

Your home and carpets need to be professionally cleaned prior to listing. We also prefer that gutter cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and furnace/AC servicing are up to date prior to us listing your property.

Front / Entry / Outside:

• Sweep entry and walkway.
• Sweep the patio and walkway.
• Yard clean-up. Cut and edge lawns, remove overgrown plants and make sure watering systems are operational. During spring and early summer, grass may need to be cut every two weeks. In this case, we may need to schedule additional yard service.

General:

• Wipe dust webs from corners and walls throughout.
• Check walls for washable stains and remove them.
• Clean tops of all ceiling fans and light covers.
• Clean blinds and window seals as needed throughout.
• Clean windows inside and out that you can safely reach.
• Clean all door edges as needed.
• Clean light switch covers as needed.
• Clean the tops of baseboards throughout.

Kitchen:

• Clean out all cabinet drawers and shelves.
• Clean underneath sinks.
• Clean all appliances inside and out.
• Clean underneath the microwave.
• Clean the vent filter above the stove.
• Clean sinks and faucets.

Baths:

• Clean out all cabinet drawers and shelves.
• Clean out underneath sinks.
• Clean air vent cover/filter.
• Clean tubs, toilets, sinks and fixtures.

Laundry / Garage:

• Clean lint trap.
• Clean out the garage and remove trash as needed.

We hope this information is useful and has pointed you in the right direction to prepare your home for rent. Please let us know if you have any questions at all! We are here to help and we look forward to working with you!

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