How to Prepare Your Rental Property for a New Tenant

by Skylar St. Pierre

Getting your rental property ready for a new tenant involves more than a quick cleaning. Proper preparation helps set the tone for a positive landlord-tenant relationship, reduces early maintenance requests, and ensures your property remains in top condition. Here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing your property for a smooth tenant transition.

For a more comprehensive approach to tenant turnover, download our Guide to Handling Tenant Turnover here.

1. Deep Clean All Rooms

Why It Matters: A thoroughly cleaned property makes a strong first impression and signals that you take pride in maintaining the space. Tenants appreciate a fresh, clean environment, and it sets a standard for how you expect the property to be kept.
How to Do It: Clean all rooms from top to bottom. This includes dusting, vacuuming, and sanitizing surfaces. Pay extra attention to the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as often-overlooked areas like baseboards, light fixtures, and inside appliances.
Pro Tip: If possible, hire a professional cleaning service to ensure the property is spotless. Professional cleaners can handle tough tasks like carpet cleaning, grout scrubbing, and window washing.

2. Inspect for Maintenance Issues

Why It Matters: Addressing maintenance issues before a tenant moves in helps reduce the likelihood of early repair requests and ensures the property is safe and functional.
What to Check: Look for any leaks, broken fixtures, or damage that needs repair. Test all appliances, check for running toilets, inspect faucets for drips, and make sure all doors and windows open and close properly.
Pro Tip: Create a checklist for each room to make sure you’re covering all the bases. Document any repairs made, and keep a record for future reference. This can also help with planning regular maintenance schedules.

3. Check Safety Features (Smoke Detectors, etc.)

Why It Matters: Ensuring that safety features are functioning properly protects both your tenants and your investment. Working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are essential for tenant safety and may be legally required.
How to Do It: Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replace batteries if needed, and make sure there are enough detectors for the property size. Check fire extinguishers to ensure they’re charged and placed in accessible locations.
Pro Tip: Replace any smoke detectors that are more than 10 years old. If possible, consider installing interconnected detectors for added safety. Document the date of each test and any battery replacements.

4. Document the Property’s Condition

Why It Matters: Documenting the property’s condition before move-in protects you in case of any damage disputes at the end of the lease. It provides a clear record of the property’s state, which is essential for managing security deposits.
How to Do It: Take high-resolution photos of each room, focusing on walls, floors, and major appliances. Create a move-in checklist and have the tenant review and sign it during their walkthrough. This checklist should note any existing wear and tear, as well as the condition of appliances and fixtures.
Pro Tip: Store the photos and signed checklist digitally, either in a property management app or in cloud storage. This ensures easy access when it’s time for the move-out inspection and helps prevent disputes.

5. Change Locks and Update Entry Codes (If Applicable)

Why It Matters: Changing the locks or rekeying between tenants is a critical step for security. It ensures that previous tenants no longer have access to the property, and it gives new tenants peace of mind.
How to Do It: Replace locks on exterior doors or rekey them if the hardware is still in good condition. If your property uses a keypad entry, update the code and provide the new code to the tenant upon move-in.
Pro Tip: Consider investing in a smart lock system, which allows you to change access codes remotely. This feature is convenient for both you and your tenants, especially for future turnovers.

Call to Action

Preparing your rental property for a new tenant requires careful attention to detail, but it’s worth the effort to ensure a positive start. A well-prepared property not only makes a great first impression but also helps set the standard for the entire tenancy. Ready to streamline your tenant turnover process? Download our Guide to Handling Tenant Turnover here for more tips on managing smooth transitions.