(Newswire.net — January 10, 2018) — There will more than likely be multiple household tasks landlords will need to perform before welcoming a new tenant. After all, the occupant will want to move into a fresh, hygienic space that will make them feel right at home. If you are a landlord, find out how to prepare for a new tenant.
Repair Any Health and Safety Problems
Every landlord has a responsibility to fix any problems that may pose a risk to a tenant’s health and safety. For example, you must ensure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. You must also review the property for any signs of mold or mildew.
If you are looking for a new tenant following the death of a previous tenant, it might be beneficial to contact an Unintended Death Cleanup Company, who can decontaminate, sanitize, and remove all biohazardous waste.
Thoroughly Clean the Property
Ensure the house or apartment is in tip-top condition by thoroughly cleaning every unit and room across the property. Deep clean the property so the walls, flooring, refrigerator, toilet, bath, and stove appear as good as new. You could also hire a professional cleaning company to clean the apartment from top to bottom, so tenants can enjoy a clean, fresh apartment from the moment they receive the keys.
Review the Property’s Utilities
Once a tenant has moved out, one of the first things you should do is review that all the utilities are in working order. This is essential regardless of whether you or the tenant will be paying for the monthly electricity, plumbing, and heating bills. Ensure the heat works in every room across the property, and that there are no leaks or clogs in the plumbing. You would expect the basic utilities inside your own home, which is why they will be necessities for a tenant.
Talk to the Potential Tenant
Before a tenant signs a lease agreement, sit them down and take the time to go through the agreement section by section. This will ensure the tenant fully understands what they are agreeing to before they sign on the dotted line, so you can avoid conflicts down the road and prove that you are both an honest and fair landlord. Once you have been through the agreement, be sure to answer all their questions honestly. If they are both happy to move forward, the tenant should then sign and date the lease agreement.
Collect the First Month’s Rent and Deposit
Before a tenant moves into the property, you should collect both the security deposit and their first month’s rent. If they do not pay rent prior to their first month, they may make a late payment or may refuse to pay the rent at all if they decide to move out. So, always collect the security deposit and rent before you hand over the keys to avoid financial difficulties once a tenant has moved in – and you should include this information in their lease agreement.