Charleston Property Management |One of the most nerve-wracking days a property manager has is when they go into a rental home for the first time after a tenant moves out. We have no idea what to expect and hope that the tenant took care of their home. One way to ease this stress is to ensure that the tenants in your rental homes are responsible adults and will leave home is an excellent condition. While there’s not much you can do about normal wear and tear, use these three tips to help ensure your tenants will take care of their rentals.
1. Screen Tenants-As a property manager, the essential part of your job is screening tenants. You can’t let anyone with a deposit move into a home. You need to make every potential tenant fill out an application and perform a credit and background check, verify employment and income and call the references. Tenants should make a least three times the rent amount in income and show they are responsible through a steady employment history and good credit.
2. Have a Detailed Lease-The lease for the rental home needs to be detailed so that tenants know what is expected of them and what the consequences are for not taking care of the home. Make sure you include rules about trash/garbage accumulation, smoke detectors remaining in working order, upkeep of the home, and pets if applicable. You should also include the move out inspection form that you will use to determine if the tenant will get their deposit back so that they can make sure to have everything completed before handing over the keys.
3. Do Inspections-A property manager that performs inspections on rental homes generally see homes being better maintained because the tenant expects the landlord to check up on them. Schedule an inspection every six months and at lease renewal time. Do not allow tenants to renew their lease if they do not pass their inspection. You can also charge lease violation fines if needed. Just make sure that the rules about inspections and violations are spelled out in the lease.
If you are ready for a qualified Charleston property manager to talk to you about your rental home, contact Scott Properties today.