How To Prep a Rental Property

There’s a lot to consider when you buy a property with the intention of renting it out. Being a landlord is a big task! 

There’s a lot to consider when you buy a property with the intention of renting it out. Being a landlord is a big task! You want to provide a safe, comfortable, and price-justifying experience with your property. Whether it’s VRBO style, or longer term rentals, there’s some essential things you need to do to prepare a property for rental. Let’s get into it!

Make It Livable (Obviously)

This one may seem obvious, but I feel it’s important to mention if you’re earnestly looking for tips on making a rental property work for you. Depending on the type of property, there’s different levels to the livability element. If you’re renting out longterm, the renter may want to provide their own furniture and dishes, etc. However, on a VRBO basis, you should be providing anything that is essential to every-day life. This includes dishes, towels, carpets, fresh sheets, etc. A good way to make sure it’s up to par, especially for yourself, is by staying in it for a few days before debuting it. This way, you can make a list of everything you needed while you were staying there, and you can guarantee that your guests will enjoy their stay and have everything they need.

Remove Valuables (Depending)

This is also dependent on what type of property you’re renting out. Longterm rentals will be less likely to have your valuables included anyway, but if you’re renting out a property part time and living there part time, or just renting out a property full of your amazing stuff, reconsider. You’re not always sure who is being welcomed into your space, so removing your valuables or locking them in a secure place is super important to maintaining a sustainable and profitable rental property.

Have It Professionally Cleaned

This one also seems like a given, but can be overlooked in the pursuit of saving a penny. Getting a property professionally cleaned is essential to providing a safe and comfortable place for your guests to stay. Investing in this will make a world of difference in how much your guests enjoy their stay, and will definitely impact their reviews. Everybody loves a clean home, so although it’s more expensive on the face, it’s probably more beneficial in the long run. You can even work out a deal with local cleaners, and ensure that you have the best kept rental property of all time!

Form A Reasonable Rental Price/Plan

When renting a property, you need to gauge the market and see how much you can reasonably get for what you’re offering. Depending on the season, type of renter you’re targeting, and the experience you’re providing, you can form a plan that will make you money while still being attainable by your demo. It’s a good idea to really consider who you want staying in your space, and if this is a realistic customer to attract in your area. Once you’ve done this, you can figure out how to market your property and really maximize the potential of renter and experience!

Test the Space

This goes along with the first tip, but testing your space is essential to ensuring a positive experience for each guest! Test the A/C, all of the appliances, and make sure the plumbing and alarm systems are in check. This is extra insurance to assure you that your guest will enjoy their stay and everything they use will work. The last thing you want is a surprise maintenance complaint on a review that will drag down your rating. This is why it’s very important to enjoy your space as if you were a guest, and make note of everything that you notice in the experience.