Before a tenant moves in, a proactive San Diego landlord will sign the lease agreement and talk about the expectations and responsibilities that are required during the tenancy. This is your best opportunity to establish an open, respectful, and communicative relationship with your new tenants.
There are also a few logistics to take care of. Today, we’re taking a look at the things you can do before your tenant moves into your property to ensure all parties have a successful rental experience.
RentSimpli is a full-service, residential property management company serving San Diego & Riverside Counties, including specialty focus in the Temecula Valley and Murrieta areas.
Inspect the Property for Maintenance Needs
Do a thorough walk-through of your property to make sure everything is functional and ready for the tenant. You may have done this before you even put the home on the market, but you’ll want to do it again before the tenant moves in. This will eliminate any early maintenance requests and will also show your new residents that the care and condition of your property is important to you.
Check for major issues like leaks under sinks and working appliances. Pay attention to smaller details as well. Every light bulb should work and new air filters should be in place. Check the locks on windows and doors and make sure the blinds, drawers, and cupboards open and close with ease.
If there are any repairs that need to be made, get your vendors lined up before the move-in date. All work should be completed before your tenant takes possession of the home.
Provide a Clean Rental Home
A clean San Diego rental property really isn’t an option; it’s a requirement. Good tenants will not be thrilled about moving into a home that’s dirty, dusty, or left with trash and debris laying around. Hire some reliable professional cleaners to scrub the property from ceiling to floors. Have them dust the fans and the floorboards. Make sure carpets are steam cleaned and toilets and tubs are sparkling. You want to pull the appliances away from the walls to clean around them. Outside, the landscaping should be well-maintained and appealing.
This contributes to providing an easy move-in experience for your tenants, and it also sets a standard for the lease period. When tenants move into a clean house, you can expect the property to be just as clean when they move out.
Document the Property Condition
Before the lease begins, you’ll need to document the condition of your home. This is important, because you’ll want to compare how it looks now to how it looks when the tenants move out. This will impact whether the security deposit is returned in full, in part, or not at all.
Take excellent pictures and even videos. Write up descriptions and make notes. You’ll want to provide your tenants with the opportunity to make any of their own observations on the condition of the property at move-in. Keep this in your records and refer to it when you’re inspecting the property at move-out.
Collect the Move-In Funds
The final thing you’ll want to do before your tenants move into your San Diego rental property is collect the move-in funds. This will include the security deposit, first month’s rent, and any other fees or deposits such as pet fees. Remember that there are limits to how much you can collect and how you hold that security deposit.
If you have any questions about the move-in process or anything pertaining to San Diego property management, we hope you’ll contact us at RentSimpli. We’re happy to help.