How to Get Your Property Ready for a New Resident
The busy season is about to be upon us! With May arriving, properties in the Triangle should begin to experience high turnover, as local students and professionals end one phase of their lives and move on to the next. If you’re afforded any lag time between residents, consider the following tips as ways to spruce up your property to prepare it for the next occupant.
Step 1: Make sure everything still works
From smoke alarms to doorbells, a property relies on several pieces of technology to continue to function, keep residents comfortable and address safety. Make sure you give the following items a once-over to ensure they’re ready for move-in:
- Kitchen appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, microwave)
- Laundry appliances, if applicable
- Smoke alarms
- Security systems
- Doorbells
- Water heater
- HVAC system
Step 2: Clean, sanitize and deodorize
The time between residents is the only chance you’ll get to deep clean your property, which includes washing the windows, updating the landscaping and other hefty tasks that could never be done with a resident still living on your property—at least, if you want to avoid complaints. Take advantage of the downtime to check these big items off your to-do list:
- Power wash the exterior
- Check for and address any mold issues in the kitchen or bathroom
- Deep clean/degrease appliances
- Wash the carpets
- Repaint
- Inspect the HVAC system
Step 3: Change the locks
It goes without saying that you don’t want to risk providing old residents access to your property.
Step 4: Repair any damage
If you’re unlucky enough to have to deal with significant damage from a former resident, now is the time to deal with it in full. Don’t try to hide holes in the wall with paintings or cover pet scratches with a new rug. You can fund repairs to outrageous damage from your security deposit, so invest in quality repairs before inviting a new resident inside.
Step 5: Take photos of your property
Feel like your listing photos are out of date? If you’re relying on photos from five(+) years ago, it may be time to upgrade, especially if you’ve updated appliances or repainted the walls.
See more insights