Today we are talking about what we need to do to get a house ready for the rental market. When property owners talk to me about this topic, I tell them that it's very similar to getting a home ready for the sales market. Finding a renter is quite similar to finding a buyer and you want your house to present well. Here are a few of the things we recommend.Clean and EmptyMake sure the house is clean before you put it on the rental market. It should also be empty; you don't want any personal items left behind that belong to you or a prior tenant. Check the doors, drawers and cabinets so you know everything has been cleaned out. Have the house freshly painted or touched up. You also want to have the air conditioning and heating systems serviced because one of the things we require is that tenants change filters every month.Texas Property Code RequirementsTexas property code requires that locks be changed on your rental property between every occupant. That means you'll need to have your locksmith come to your property and change the locks. We have vendors who can do these things for you if you're not sure who to call. The property code also requires that smoke detectors be serviced and that there's one in every bedroom on your property. So, you'll want to check the smoke detectors and make sure they work before you rent out the home.Exterior DetailsProspective tenants are not going to want to see any flaking paint on the outside of your house. Trim your trees, and if there are any branches that come within two feet of the roof, you'll want to look for damage from wind and trees. Take care of mowing your lawn and trim or cut back any weeds, bushes or flower beds. We recommend these things because first impressions are critical.If you have any questions about getting your house ready for the rental market, please contact us at Boardwalk Real Property Management and we'd be happy to help you.
