To find great tenants and earn as much as possible on your Santa Rosa rental property, you need to make sure it’s ready for the market. Don’t make the mistake of showing a property that isn’t move-in ready. It will turn off tenants if they notice things that aren’t working, worn out, or dirty.
We have some tips on what you can do to ensure your rental home is not only ready for the market, but attention-grabbing and appealing to prospective tenants.
Inspect and Repair Your Santa Rosa Rental Home
Everything inside the property needs to function safely and well. Do a thorough walk-through and check every system. Test every function. Turn on the heat and the air conditioning and run the water, including faucets, sinks, tubs, and showers. Flush every toilet. Check for moisture or dripping under sinks and behind walls. Plug something into every outlet. Turn on the appliances and operate the locks on all the property’s doors and windows. Peek inside closets and drawers.
Make a list of anything that needs to be repaired or replaced, and then get to work. Hire your vendors and schedule your maintenance.
Professional Cleaning is Critical for Rent-Ready Properties
Your property has to be so clean it sparkles. When tenants begin to tour the home, you want them to see a property that’s clean and bright and welcoming. Even if you love to clean, we recommend you hire a professional crew come in to scrub the home from top to bottom. Serious attention to detail is required, and it usually requires professionals to scrub the baseboards and dust the ceiling fans. Find cleaners who are willing to pull the appliances out and dust and sweep behind them. You want tubs and sinks that shine.
Curb Appeal for Santa Rosa Rental Homes
First impressions are important when you’re renting out a Santa Rosa property. Make sure you give prospective tenants a reason to be excited about going inside. We have actually heard stories about potential tenants driving right by a home that they had intended to see, but decided not to because of the exterior of the property.
You don’t have to completely upgrade your landscaping, but pay attention to the details that will stand out for prospective tenants. You don’t want any debris or trash on the outside of the home. The paint should be in good shape and the windows should be clean. Sweep away any cobwebs or leaves from the front door. Make sure there’s adequate exterior lighting. If your property has a yard, make sure the lawn is mowed and the bushes are trimmed.
Be Available for Showings
We are always surprised at how bad landlords are at responding to tenants who want to view their home. Part of preparing your property for the rental market is preparing yourself for the showings and the many questions, calls, and messages that you’re going to receive about it.
Allow prospective tenants to see the home when it’s convenient for them. You can be there yourself to tell them more about the property or you can utilize some of the automated lockboxes and other technologies that will allow your prospective tenants to see the home on their own, without you.
We can help you with the leasing process or any questions you might have pertaining to Santa Rosa property management. Contact our team at Redwood Residential Property Management for additional tips and advice.
Marla Shaw