The move out process begins long before the tenants turn in their keys. About 60 days prior to the end of a lease, Grand Rapids property managers will send a renewal letter to their tenants. This letter will lay out several options. They can renew, in which case the new rental rate will be listed. They can choose to rent month to month without a new lease, and then the rent is usually about $100 more per month than it would be with a lease. Or, they can decide they want to move out of the property.
Any time a tenant wants to move, it’s a good idea to find out why. If it’s because the carpet is dirty, perhaps new carpet will make them happy and they’ll decide to stay. Usually, good tenants will move out for a reason beyond your control. Roommates might be splitting up or parents are divorcing. If you’re treating your tenants well and taking care of your property, they should want to stay in a house that’s a good fit for them.
Once you know your tenants are moving and you’ll have a vacancy, put the property on the market. You’ll need to put a professional sign in the yard, and your lease should explain your marketing plans and your intention to show the property after notice has been given. This is hard to enforce if your tenants refuse to cooperate, but set up the expectation before you start showing the home. Ask your tenants to keep the place clean and presentable so you’re able to rent it out before it’s vacant.
After your current tenants have moved out, immediately conduct an inspection. Take a lot of pictures, just like you did during the move in inspection. Compare the condition of the property at move in to the way it looks at move out. If there are damages, bill your tenants for those repairs. Complete a damage report, which is required in nearly all states. This is where you itemize the damages and any past due rent or other charges that the tenants owe.
Send the damage report summary as well as any remaining deposit money back to the tenants. It’s their responsibility to provide you with a forwarding address within four days of moving out. If they don’t let you know what their new address is, you don’t have to spend your time tracking them down in order to send out the damage report and the security deposit. When you have money to send them and you don’t have a forwarding address, simply send it to their last known address and when it comes back, make a copy of it and file it. This will demonstrate you tried to return the deposit and send the damage report. It will keep you out of legal trouble.
Please contact us at United Properties if you need any help getting a tenant moved out of your property, or if you have questions about the process.
Sergio joined United Properties in 2020. He is a graduate from Pickens Technical College as a Nurse Assistant and as a Small Animal Care Provider in 2010. In the past nine years, Sergio has had various jobs, all focused around customer service.
Eden joined United Properties in 2016. Eden graduated from Davenport University in 2015 with an Associate’s in Business Administration. She’s the Executive Assistant to the Owner of United Properties, with a focus on procedural documentation. She enjoys playing guitar, reading, and doing outdoor activities. Eden is trilingual and able to communicate in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. 
David joined the United Properties team in 2019 as the Director of Client Relations and Business Development. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading all leasing, application underwriting, tenant relations, accounts receivable, process improvement, remote workers, and general office functionality (essentially anything outside of maintenance and service). David comes from a longstanding career at a Fortune 15 company primarily in a sales and customer service leadership role.
Tim VandenToorn serves as Managing Partner of United Properties of West Michigan, working closely with our owners and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company. Tim also started United Realty, which serves as a brokerage for United Properties and assists investors with the acquisition of investment properties.
Matthew joined the United Properties in early 2020. He is a graduate of Lee University with a bachelor’s in Intercultural Studies and also a master’s in Discipleship and Christian Formation. Matthew serves as a project manager over the Rent Ready process. He has 20 years of construction experience and over 10 years of experience in leadership positions. He oversees a team of technicians and schedules outside vendors getting properties back to the United rent-ready standard so that they can be leased again.
Carla joined United Properties in late 2019 as a billing specialist. Carla ensures invoices are received from contractors and bills them out in a timely fashion.
Cristina joined United Properties as the billing assistant in October of 2020. She has experience as a technology professional, an English-Spanish translator, and has worked the past several years as the treasurer of her condominium.
Rick is one of the newest members of our team. He has an extensive background in customer service. He and his wife are raising their 4-year-old son. Rick loves beef jerky so much he makes his own.
Harriet joined United Properties as a billing assistant in February of 2021. She has experience as a bookkeeper and a Property Manager for a Real Estate account. She was a working student during her college days. Harriet loves cleaning because she thinks it is therapeutic. She also loves watching series during her free time, and she’s a fur mom of one dog. Her inspiration to work every day is her family.
Diego has an extensive background in customer service and, most recently in Maintenance and
My name is Paulina Gonzalez. I have been working for the company since early 2021. I studied social work and have 7 years of experience in customer service. I speak English and Spanish. I am very patient, and I like to ask a lot of questions to learn a lot. I enjoy small road trips and cold rainy weather. I have a 3-month-old puppy, and he is my favorite thing in the world.
Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial strategies and public accounting and is studying a masters in Blockchain and Fintech regulation. She has previous experience as a customer service representative. She speaks English and Spanish. She loves taking long walks with her three dogs, hiking and road tripping during the weekends.
Chris Good is new to the United Properties Team since June 2022 as a Business Development Manager. With years of experience in both the construction industry (Master Electrician) and the Real Estate industry (Broker), he will closely work with new and experienced investors to facilitate their real estate goals.
Melba Alvarez
Enrique Vergara (Henry)
Alyssa Lawrence
Mike Cleveland