Once you’ve familiarized yourself with state and local laws on your rental home, now is the time to prepare your San Diego rental property for your future tenants. Commonly called “make ready,” this includes a number of responsibilities many do-it-yourself (DIY) new landlords are unaware of.
Interior
Start with the interior. Do you have enough smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and are they at the right places? Have your furnace and air conditioner been cleaned in the past year? Have all filters been changed? How about the batteries in those detectors and garage door openers? Do you need to register your home as a rental?
After addressing those concerns, carry out the rest of the make ready” process. Inspect your surroundings. Check whether the walls need any repair or new painting. Check the caulking around toilets, window seals, tubs, and sinks, and check weather stripping. If there is a fireplace, has the chimney been cleaned in the last 12 months? Moreover, if you had any pest problems in the past, perhaps a pest control service is in order.
The next step deals with checking the functionality of each appliance. Turn on all burners to ensure they work properly. Inspect all faucets, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher, too. Repair any leaks and defects since all appliances need to be operational for your San Diego rental property. Bear in mind that all appliances and “personal property” including washers and dryers, lawnmowers, etc., are under the same rule. Make an informed decision and make sure that before you leave anything in your San Diego rental property, that you plan to keep it in good repair for the length of your new resident’s tenancy.
Lastly, replace any burnt-out lightbulbs and professionally clean the home. After doing these tasks, hire a professional to clean the carpet. This will greatly influence new renters to treat your home with respect and keep it clean. This saves you time and money.
Exterior
Since the home’s indoors are now ready, prepare the outdoors next. Clear the gutters, mow and edge the lawn, and get rid of any weeds and other unwanted objects. In addition, if you have bushes or trees that need pruning, hire a good landscape service to improve the exterior of your home.
Doing all the property preparation on your own may require 6-20 hours of your time depending on the condition of your house. Making use of professional services may save you time, but it is more expensive. You’ll also need to ask for references and ensure the vendors can do their job on time. Whichever choice you make, preparing your home before renting it out will save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
Curious to know more about San Diego property management? Realevate Specialists have your answers. Please contact us for more information.
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