..
Prepare Your Rental Property
for Occupancy
By Neda
Dabestani-Ryba
|
|
.
| Among
your many responsibilities as a landlord, the law provides for a warranty
of implied habitability. This means that the dwelling must be considered
habitable and any known problems must be fixed before you allow a tenant
to take occupancy.
When a tenant
vacates one of your units, take this opportunity to perform a walkthrough
of the unit to determine its condition and discover what repairs or maintenance
need to be done. Here are some of the specific areas that you will need
to examine in your property before you accept a new tenant.
|
|
.
Do all
the fixtures work properly? This includes faucets, showers, tubs, toilets,
and any other fixtures. Make sure that the fixtures do not leak and that
they consistently operate correctly. Address any leaks or other problems
before you rent out your property. If a fixture is consistently causing
problems, it may be
easier --
and even cheaper -- to replace it to avoid future problems.
In addition
to providing quality fixtures for your tenants, repairing leaky fixtures
can also reduce your water bill. If you pay for your tenants' utilities
and water, this can mean substantial savings.
Have the
carpets been thoroughly cleaned? Mold, mildew, and pet stains are considered
health hazards, and such problems should be completely resolved before
you rent out your property. Diseases such as toxoplasmosis, which is normally
found in cat urine stains, can be deadly. Proper cleaning of your carpets
will ensure that that your tenants will have a healthy environment. If
the carpet has mildewed or there is a mold problem, you may need to replace
the carpet.
Have the cabinets,
closets, and storage areas been completely cleaned? Mildew and mold can
lurk underneath cabinets, especially if you have had a problem with leaky
fixtures. You may have to replace a cabinet if the damage is severe.
Closets
are one area that tenants frequently neglect when they vacate a property.
Make sure that these areas are completely cleaned and that any forgotten
property is handled appropriately. You may need to track down your previous
tenants to notify them that they have abandoned their belongings. Set a
specific reasonable response time, and if they do not respond in that specific
amount of time, you may then discard the property.
Are the
walls free of chips, marks, and holes? Depending on the length of the
previous tenancy, you may have to repaint the unit. Any existing holes
should be fixed before you rent out the property. If you do not plan to
repaint, examine the condition of the walls carefully and make notes so
you do not hold your new tenant liable for damage caused by someone else.
At a minimum, you should patch any obvious holes.
Do all of
the appliances operate properly? Old appliances waste lots of energy,
which is a consideration for landlords providing free utilities to their
tenants. Replacing old appliances with new models will save you money on
energy and repairs and maintenance. Your tenants will appreciate the newer
appliances, and your electric or gas bills should be lower as well.
Does the
unit have lead paint? Most properties built after 1978 do not have
lead paint. But if your property was built before that, you need to determine
if it contains lead paint. If it does, you must disclose this to your prospective
tenants before they move in.
Do all of
the doors and windows operate properly? Check all of the doors and windows
of your property to make sure that they open and close properly and that
they are in good working order. This includes cabinetry, patio doors, and
windows.
.
|
|
Neda Dabestani-Ryba
is a licensed Realtor in Maryland. She is a member of the President's Circle
of Top Real Estate Professionals.
She can be reached at (800) 536-3806
or visit her website for more information: neda.dabestani.pcragent.com |
.
| Prudential
Carruthers REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential
Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing
Opportunity |
|
.
| Other
articles by this author
|
.
..
. |
