United Properties of West Michigan, United Properties of West Michigan property management, Grand Rapids property management, Grand Rapids property management companies, Grand Rapids property manager, Grand Rapids property management company, Grand Rapids rental management, Kentwood property management, Kentwood property management companies, Kentwood property manager, Kentwood property management company, Kentwood rental managementThis might be 30 days before the move in date, especially if there is a tenant still living in the property.
Preparing the Property
Prior to move in, you’ll want an idea of what needs to be done at the property. This might include new carpet, fresh paint and minor repairs to get the place ready for a new tenant. Identify the work that needs to be done and schedule it for as soon as the current tenant moves out. If the property is vacant, it should be ready for move in and you can simply collect the deposit, set up the lease signing date and schedule the move in.
Move In Inspection
Before your tenant moves into the property, take pictures so you can document its condition. This is the most important and valuable thing you can do during the move in process. You cannot have too many pictures; take a couple hundred photos of the house. You’ll want pictures of every room as well as the appliances, the ceiling, the walls, the floors and the exterior. If you have to go to court, you’ll have the documentation you need to prove how the place looked before your tenant moved in. Some property managers will take videos. That can be valuable, but it won’t help you much in court. Pictures are your best tool.
Make notes if there are things that need to be fixed, and then give the tenants an inventory checklist. Allow your tenants to keep that checklist for about seven days so they have the opportunity to identify anything that may be broken or damaged. That way, they won’t get charged for it when they move out.
Review the Lease
Take the time to go through your lease with the tenants. Reviewing each paragraph shouldn’t take more than 20 or 30 minutes. Your tenant can ask any questions, and you’ll be sure that everyone is on the same page. Some property managers are moving to video lease instructions. This cuts down on the amount of time you have to spend with a tenant. You can send the tenant a video that explains the lease and the tenant provides an electronic signature.
Pay attention to the move in process. Make sure you’re prepared to get the home ready quickly and take a lot of pictures and notes so you document the condition of your property. If you have any questions, please contact us at United Properties.