Читать книгу Property Management Kit For Dummies - Robert S. Griswold - Страница 88

You may think that you’re saving time and money by allowing a new tenant to lease a rental unit that hasn’t been prepared properly. After all, if Bob doesn’t mind that the unit isn’t rent-ready, why should you? Unfortunately, this strategy isn’t as problem-free as it seems on the surface. In fact, it’s a big mistake. Why? The kind of tenant that a unit that hasn’t been properly prepared attracts is someone who has lower standards and may even be desperate. New tenants who accept a dirty, poorly maintained rental unit surely won’t make any extra effort to leave the property in good condition when they depart.

Know that cheaper isn’t always the wise choice. Weigh the cost of frequent replacement against the cost of a more-durable product when making renovation decisions. Cleanliness is essential. If you rent a dirty unit, new tenants will rightfully assume that your standards are low and will show a lack of care during their tenancy.

One of the best ways to maximize your rental income is to develop a system to improve your efficiency by completing your rent-ready process in minimum time. But you may be so overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to get done in the amount of time you have that you don’t consider the order in which you should proceed. I recommend that you follow these steps in order to maximize your time and efficiency:

1 General cleaning (hauling away anything left behind by your vacating tenant)

2 Maintenance (which includes inspecting safety items, making repairs, and installing upgrades)

3 Painting

4 Final cleaning and sanitation

5 Carpet or floor-covering cleaning

Though you can’t begin turning the rental before the tenants vacate, now’s the time to walk through the unit and come up with your plan for getting it ready to rent again.