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Tenant turnover is a natural part of life for real estate investors. So, it is your job to make sure that your unit is prepared for a new tenant to move in as soon as possible.
Sometimes, cleaning and preparing a property for your next tenant during tenant turnover is a seamless process. However, sometimes tenants can leave behind messes and odours that need to be handled before you allow someone else to move into your unit.
While maintaining a clean unit during tenant turnover periods can be hard work, it will pay off in the long run as the majority of prospective tenants will not want to view, let alone live in, a filthy rental.
So, in order to make sure your units are move-in ready, here are five tips to help you clean your rental units while tackling tenant turnover.
Before we dive in, it is important to remember that tenant turnover can be a great time to renovate, update and shift gears with your investment properties. So, in order to ensure you have the funds to do everything you want with tenant turnover, click the link below to book a free strategy call today.
Request That Tenants Clean Prior to Tenant Turnover
One of the first things you can do in order to ensure your rental unit is clean and ready for the next tenant to move in is to simply ask your previous tenant to clean the unit prior to moving out. While you cannot ensure that the tenant will perform a professional cleaning job and leave the unit 100 per cent move-in ready, it can certainly be helpful for them to give you a head start on tenant turnover.
Unlike in the United States, you cannot legally charge a security deposit for your rental units. This means that unlike American investors, you do not have that deposit to use in order to leverage tenants into cleaning the unit before tenant turnover. Instead, you will have to rely on good faith from your tenants to clean up after themselves. If you would like to further incentivize them into cleaning, you may be able to offer a discount on their final month’s rent or some other form of payment in return for leaving the property as they found it.
Focus on Soft Surfaces
Some of the easiest things to overlook when cleaning any home are the soft surfaces. These can be carpets, curtains, couches, or any other fabric surface that may have allowed dirt, grime, and odours to seep into it over time. Even if you vacuum these surfaces and clean them at the surface level, there may be additional dirt soaked deeper into the material.
So, it may be worth your time to hire carpet cleaners and/or rent the equipment yourself to make sure they get cleaned during tenant turnover. That way any scents or pockets of grime that are locked deeper inside the fabric can be properly removed. This will leave your surfaces smelling fresher and looking brighter and more appealing. Sometimes, it may even leave surfaces more comfortable than they were before.
Discover Residential Property Management With This Step By Step Guide
Inspect Furniture and Appliances for Repair and Replacement Needs
If your rental units come furnished, you should be inspecting the furniture every time you do tenant turnover to make sure they are still in good condition – and that previous tenants did not steal anything. Wear and tear are a natural part of life. However, you should always aim to find and address any needed repairs before renting out the unit to a new tenant. These can include torn fabrics on couches and chairs, cracks in table legs and more.
However, it is not always cost-effective to repair every single flaw in a piece of furniture. So, in these cases you will be better off replacing the entire thing. If the furniture is still in usable condition, you may be able to sell it on sites like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, but if they are not, you are better off heading straight to the dump.
Similarly, over time your appliances may wear down and need repairs and updates. With appliances you should always have them professionally inspected and repaired. If they cannot be repaired, you need to replace them. Even if problems have not been reported with your appliances by your previous tenants, it is better to be proactive and have them inspected. This way if a problem did go unnoticed, you can address it before it results in more expensive repairs and replacements.
Repaint the Walls
One of the fastest ways to brighten up a room and make your units look brand new is a fresh coat of paint. While you can always try your best to deep clean the walls and remove any grime and filth that may have built up over the years (and should), sometimes it is best to add some new paint onto the wall to ensure everything is sealed away.
This is especially important if your previous tenants smoked inside the unit as the residue left behind on the wall can contribute to health concerns for your tenants if left exposed.
Keep an Eye Out for Hidden Grime and Filth
Sometimes even a keen eye can miss some serious grime. Places such as under the fridge and oven or beneath the sink can go uncleaned despite the serious potential for filth to build up in these areas. While people may never see the filth, it can make a big difference for the health of your tenants. The mold and rot that can build up if these areas remain unclean also can cause serious damage to your property that will be expensive to repair later. So, it is better to avoid it altogether by making sure these areas are kept clean.
Bonus: Look at Turnover Periods as an Opportunity to Refinance
Tenant turnover periods are often some of the most dreaded periods for investors because their cash flow grinds to a halt. However, it can instead be used as an opportunity. If you suspect your property has appreciated over time and the equity you have built up in the home is sufficient, you may want to consider refinancing and taking out some of that equity for you to use. This money can then be used to renovate, buy new properties or to enjoy some of the finer parts of life.
If you are interested in learning more about refinancing or are ready to get started. Visit us online at LendCity.ca or give us a call at 519-960-0370 and book an appointment with a member of our team. Alternatively, click the link below to book a free strategy call with our team at LendCity today.