Moving into a new home can be a stressful change for tenants. As a landlord, you can help them by making this transition smoother and helping them settle into their new home. Providing your tenants with a pleasant and welcoming experience can also help you lay the foundation for a healthy landlord-tenant relationship.
Here are a few tips that can help make tenant move-ins a breeze.
Move-in inspections help in ensuring that the property is habitable and conforms with the Implied Warranty of Habitability standards. Check for structural flaws, leakage issues, inefficient appliances, and safety concerns such as frayed wiring or broken door locks, among others, and fix them with the help of qualified contractors. You should also document the property condition once it is rent-ready.
A clean property appears inviting and can enhance the move-in experience for the tenants. If your rental has remained vacant for several weeks, you should thoroughly clean it, preferably with the help of professional cleaners, before the renters move in.
Reviewing the lease one-on-one with tenants before it is signed minimizes the chances of misinterpretations. Once you and the renter are on the same page about all expectations and responsibilities, you can have the renter move in without any issues.
The process of shifting into a new rental home is always hectic for tenants. You can ease their burden by providing a move-in checklist. It will assist renters in ensuring that everything in the new home is in good working order, and they can contact the landlord if there are any issues. The checklist can include items such as setting up utilities, checking inventory, testing locks, smoke alarms, and submitting all necessary documents to the landlord.
As your tenant moves into the rental property, make sure to collect the security deposit in compliance with the local laws. In Arlington, VA, the security deposit amount cannot exceed two months' rent. You should also collect the first month's rent in advance so the tenant can move into their new home without worrying about the rent.
Providing the following information to the tenants will make the tenant move-in a breeze:
List out all the essential utilities you have provided in the rental like water, electricity, and gas. If you are providing additional utilities like cable, internet/Wi-Fi, and telephone services, mention them along with their charges, if any.
Apart from your contact details, provide your tenants with the contact information of the utility service provider or an Arlington property manager to be contacted in case of emergencies.
Since the rental is now the tenant's home, it is essential to provide them with the access tools like keys, security codes, or garage openers, in addition to proper instructions on how to use them.
Put together a welcome package to build a nice impression among renters to their new neighborhood. It can include a welcome note with flowers and daily essentials like toiletries, water bottles, and cleaning supplies.
With the help of the above tips, you can offer a pleasant move-in experience to your tenants. You can also consult a local Arlington, VA property manager for more professional guidance. At Arlington Realty Property Management, we help our clients make their rental homes move-in ready and make tenant move-ins a breeze.
For more information, contact us at Arlington Realty Property Management.
