One of the BEST parts of my job as a property manager is prepping properties for new residents. I have local several residents who want to move in early so they can clean their current rental residence for the next tenants.
I charted my route this AM and have stocked my car with
1) New Door Mats * I get them from Target or Lowe's when possible. I am finding that many residents have either thrown the ones at the property AWAY or moved them to the back entry. I place NEW door mats at the front entry and if there is one there, I move it to the back deck or back entry.
2) Beaucoup canisters of Citrus Magic * I LOVE this stuff....I put canisters on the top of the refrigerator, in the laundry area and in the closets.....they REALLY Work!
3) 2 12/packs of Scot's SEPTIC SAFE toilet paper. Even if there is a partial roll on the roller, I put a NEW FULL roll on the holder and put the partial roll in a nearby cabinet. Nothing like moving into a new home and find NO TP!!
4) I seem to pick up trash bags from vacant units as well as cleaning supplies so I have them along with SIMPLE GREEN sipes in a canister. I pick up litter, ends of soap, coat hangars and other debris that may have been left at the property and off load this trash at my office dumpster.
My repair people have already done any necessary repairs and departing residents are tasked with replacing burnt out light bulbs and cleaning the unit. I take updated interior and exterior photos when I leave the unit keys under the front door mat for the new residents.
This year, thanks to a suggestion I read about on Active Rain, I am adding 2 water bottles in the refrigerator with specialty label I have printed to Welcome them to their New Home AND remind them to complete their property inspection report.
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
Central Virginia
LandlordWhisperer
View our available Charlottesville, Albemarle and Lake Monticello rental homes online with photos and floor plans
"...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
Wallace,
I do like the move-in time for tenants. Love the suggestion about water battles and move in inspection report. We just had some workers do a small renovation on a rental property we own. The one worker said he was so THRILLED there was TP. It's the little things in life:-)
All the best, Michelle
Michelle * do a search here for water bottle labels and there is a blog about how to make them depending on the bottles * I'm using the Deer Park from Food Lion and can print, cut and tape fairly easily