Tip of the Month - September 2007

PREPARING YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY FOR PROSECTIVE TENANTS:


Source: Property Management for Dummies
             Wiley Publishing - Robert Griswold

You may think of preparing your rental property as one of the most basic skills, but it is critical to your overall success.  Because vacant rental units do not generate rental income, you need to fill your vacancies with good, stable, rent-paying tenants as quickly as possible.  And one of the best ways to do this is to make sure that your vacant rental units are clean and in rent-ready condition when you show them to prospective tenants.

A poor first impression of your rental unit’s exterior is hard to reverse - regardless of how great the inside may look.

You may think you are saving time and money by allowing a new tenant to lease a rental unit that has not been properly prepared.  After all, if they do not mind that the unit is not rent-ready, why should you?  Unfortunately, this strategy is not as problem-free as it seems on the surface.  In fact, it is a big mistake.  Why?  Because the kind of tenants you will attract with a rental unit that has not been properly prepared is someone who has lower standards and may even be desperate.  New tenants who will accept a dirty and poorly maintained rental unit will surely not make any effort to leave the property in good condition when they leave.



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This web page was updated on 08/30/2007.