Show Up Early To Your Vacant Property
Many of the landlord tips I suggest are really common sense, but yet they aren’t done by landlords. This one regards meeting tenants for potential viewings.
When you have a tenant viewing booked, do you show up just moments before the tenants do? Or worse yet after they do? Showing up early can mean all the difference between a successful showing or potentially losing the best tenant you’ve ever seen.
You never know what could be awaiting you and if you’ve booked a crowd of tenants to view the property, being early gives you time to right whatever is wrong. During the winter, this is time to shovel the walk if it isn’t done. During spring or summer, it’s time to open those windows to freshen the place up.
This is also your preparation time to make sure everything is just right, the floors are clean, dust bunnies are in their pens, toilets are cleaned and flushed, all the lights are on to brighten the property and your property information ready to go. Being prepared can make all the difference, so you must also make sure you have a package of cleaning supplies, rags and air fresheners with you as well, just in case.
If you haven’t been to the property for a few days, it is an excellent time to spray some Febreeze around or plug in a couple Glade plug-ins to help air the place out. Make sure you pack some extra light bulbs just in case as well. With some of the modern fixtures you run into the new R20 or A16 or new halogen bulbs and you cannot be expected to carry all of them around, so if you do have any bulbs out, make sure to note this and bring them next time!
Where we are located we have hard water issues and this makes checking the toilets a necessity. If toilets aren’t flushed regularly they quickly develop water marks. This is nothing a quick scrub can’t fix, but it’s also a great example of why you should show up early.
Advanced Tactics For Landlords
For the adventurous and to help create an even better environment for your rental, it never hurts to stop and grab flowers from a flower shop to put on display during your showings. This is especially helpful if your property is ideal for couples or families as it creates a homey look and smells nice. As an extra bonus you can take them home to your spouse after the showing!
If you are especially energetic, you can even pick up some of the cookie batters you just spoon out onto a baking sheet. The aroma of fresh baking is a fantastic way to increase the desirability of your property. Try this once and just watch the potential tenants faces as they are greeted with the scent of fresh cookies when they arrive. Tell me that doesn’t help push the popularity up of the property!
Your goal as a landlord at this time is to not just be a property owner, but also the best marketer of their property you can possibly be. Don’t forget your goal is to fill that property with the best possible tenants out there.
If you are just one of five places they are viewing that day you want yours to stand out, be memorable and be the one they not only want, but feel they need to live at! Being a landlord involves wearing many different hats, hopefully this landlord advice is helping you not only become a better landlord, but a wiser one as well.
Me again Bill,
I just don’t want to lose a months rent with this guy by having to wait till hes out to show the place.
Thx again
Russell
Hi Bill
I had to change a toilet the other day in one of my suites. When I came in the place was a mess big time. I found out the first month the tenant was there that he smoked, not allowed on lease but goes outside. He is also a problem drinker which of course was hidden while he was looking to rent. He had good ref’s but if they lie when you phone what do you do. Bill am I within my rights to tell him to clean the place up. If and when he moves out how can I show a suite in this condition. Got any advise for me here?
Thx Russell
Hi Lorie,
Was the tenant obviously smoking in the property, or was he a smoker who “smokes outside”? If you’re hoping to evict him in your case you would need to prove he is smoking inside and have specific wording in your lease not permitting smoking.
As a side note, whether tenants can or cannot smoke in your property changes form region to region. In areas where Lori lives, landlords can dictate that tenants are not allowed to smoke. In other places, once tenants are in, if they smoke in the premises there is nothing the landlord can do. This is why it’s so important to know your local rental legislation.
As for the mess, this is an area with plenty of space for vagueness. Depending on the extent of messiness and whether it is over the edge and simply cluttered can make a difference. Again, wording in your lease about expectations to keep the property clean and in order can be helpful.
I’d suggest starting with a written letter to him addressing the concerns you have. Steps like this also provide you with future evidence if you need to move forward with an eviction. So start there and see if he takes steps to clean up and if he doesn’t depending on the extent of his smoking and or lack of keeping the place clean you can move forward from there.
Regards,
Bill