Important Things to Check Before Your Next Tenant Moves In
What is your definition of an ideal tenant? If you are like most landlords, you will want a tenant who pays rent on time, takes good care of the property, occupies it for a long time and doesn’t create any troubles.
Whenever a tenant moves out and there is a vacancy, you should give a serious consideration to this question: how can you attract ideal tenants who fit in the above-mentioned definition?
Most landlords do nothing, but hope that their property would attract these tenants automatically – without any efforts on their part, but the reality is quite different. You should not only be on the lookout for them consistently by following good practices of tenant screening, but also ensure you provide a great experience while they are living in your property.
If your tenants are satisfied, they will not want to move out in the first place. It will reduce vacancy rate and have a positive impact on ROI in the long run.
Here are a few things you can do before your next tenant moves in:
- Little gestures that show that you care for your tenants can go a long way in keeping them happy and satisfied. Do you regularly get complaints about the AC or HVAC filters? Spending $20 and replacing them would solve the problem. Before your next tenant moves in, make sure that these filters are working properly and if they are not, simply change them.
- Most tenants are tired of moving from one place to another. They don’t hoard things because if they have to move out in the future, any extra belongings would be a hassle. They would really appreciate if your unit is well furnished. The patio is an important feature of a rental unit for most tenants as they can spend quality time there after a tiring day at work. Make sure that the furniture in this part of the unit is in good condition. If it is not, you can spend a few dollars on buying a new table and a few chairs.
- The same goes true for electronic appliances. Defunct lightbulbs or damaged switches will give your new tenant a very bad impression. Any electronic fixtures which are not in working condition should be replaced before a tenant moves in.
- You may spend thousands of dollars on making the interior look superb, but your investment won’t add much value if the exterior features of the property such as outer walls, doors, windows and landscape are in serious need of maintenance and upkeep. Spending some money on things like power-wash, landscaping and a new paint for walls, doors and windows can keep your ideal tenants happy.
Conclusion
These are small steps that cost little and add a lot of value. They will lead to a higher tenant retention rate. At least you will not have to be worried about frequent complaints from your good tenant.