Apartment Showing Tips every Landlord should Follow
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As many landlords can attest for nothing is more important to find the right tenant that the initial showing of your rental property. If you are showing off an apartment that looks like it hasn’t been worked on or is falling apart, then who would want to rent it? The same thing holds true for how well you are organized and prepared. No one wants a second rate landlord.
With all of that said, let’s face it: It isn’t easy being a landlord. It isn’t all about collecting your rent check once a month. You still need to show it and sell it and that’s no easy matter. Showing a rental property to potential tenants is stressful. You need to worry about apartment upkeep if no one is currently living in it or worse yet, if someone already does.
There are a large number of factors you need to worry about and keep in mind as you plan to show your rental property to any potential tenant. Here are some of the things you will need to be aware of and keep in mind for the future.
Fix up the interior - If your rental property is currently unoccupied, have any known or lingering problems fixed. If there is a leaky faucet in the kitchen, make sure it isn’t leaking as you’re walking any potential tenants through. If the property is not vacant, stop by beforehand to avoid any embarrassing situations from the current tenants.
Clean it up - Get it clean. If you think it’s clean enough, go through it one more time. It needs to be really clean. There is absolutely nothing worse than a filthy house or apartment. You’ll never rent out that space by leaving it dirty. Make sure an unoccupied it is sparkling and check on occupied properties ahead of time of the showing check that it meets your approval.
Make sure the carpet is clean - The carpet takes the brunt of all traffic and it shows. They can become dirty from mud, food, and anything else you drag it. Have it professionally cleaned but allow enough time for it to dry before showing it to anyone. If the carpet is in really bad shape, don’t even waste your time cleaning it. Toss it and replace it with a new one before you show it.
Clean up the outside – You only get one chance to make a first impression. If the exterior of your property looks rundown, the chances of that potential tenant taking apartment are pretty low. Make sure the walls and foundation are well painted and inviting.
Know your selling points - What unique aspects does your rental property offer that others won’t? What makes what you are selling better than someone else’s? Keep all of these kinds of questions in mind as you’re showing your property. For example, if the washer and dryers are brand new or if there is a great view from the newly built deck, make sure that potential tenants know about it.
Set the temperature – Perhaps the weather outside is in the middle of a cold spell. Go to the apartment ahead of time and make sure the heat is on and set to comfortable yet reasonable temperature. They will get the wrong impression of your property since not many of us would want to stay in a place that is chilly on a cool winter night.
Turn on the lights -If it has been awhile since someone has lived in your building and the electrical service is turned off, turned it on again before showing the property. You can’t see much in the dark, and a potential tenant can get the idea you may be trying to hide something and don’t want them to know about it. You may end up paying a few more dollars to have the service turned on in advance, but so what, it's a good investment if it will help sell the rental.
Be prepared -Be prepared for anything. If your tenants positively love the place and want to sign the lease right then and there, make sure you have a copy of the lease and rental application. Decide early on what type security deposit, key deposit, or pet deposit you will impose.
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