One of the quickest ways to burn out as a landlord is to DO TOO MUCH. Many landlords think they have to do EVERYTHING whereas they really only need to do a few things - and do them well.
When turning over a property to a tenant for the first time, landlords fail to have the property professionally cleaned, the carpets professionally cleaned and the yard professionally cleaned up and maintained from DAY ONE of the tenancy. By establishing the benchmark for these conditions AND having the bills as documentation, the landlord does not get worn out doing these items themselves AND the same service firms can be used when the tenants vacate to RETURN the property in the same or similar condition.
In my move-out check-out letter, I provide the names and contact information of these 3 vendors in case the residents do not have the time to perform all of these tasks themselves. I provide a 2 page cleaning check list AND move-out/key return instructions.
Many professional landlord indicate they do the cleaning because they can't find a cleaning service who will move the refrigerator - I have that on my cleaning guidelines and because I recommend the cleaning firm to over 60 potential clients ANNUALLY, they perform according to my guidelines...the cleaning gets done; I have the deposit to return to the residents or to use for late fees or other charges AND the property is properly maintained.OH!!....if the departing residents attempt to do the work themselves and it is NOT done correctly, my lease provides for a 20% markup/service charge if I have to have the work done and charge their deposit....a win-win.
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * Over 45 years of property management experience to serve you * Gibson Management Group, Ltd. is a full-service property management company. Our management program is tailored to high end single family homes of character, country and estate properties as well as town homes.
We offer listings in the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle county as well as Greene, Louisa counties and the Lake Monticello area of Fluvanna county.
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Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
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"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous
Tenants always leave the property cleaner than they got it. That is why small claims court is so busy with settling the claims of tenants against their landlords.
HeHeHe!!!....and they did not provide the move-in check list, and spent 3 days cleaning to which I respond that CLEANING is an ongoing PROCESS and not an EVENT!!!
I had this same conversation with a new landlord client about 2 months ago. Great blog post, Wallace!
Eric * It is USUALLY a matter of bringing the property UP to my standards and THEN keeping subsequent residents efforts UP to those continued standards...