Rent Ready Cleaning Tips Before Listing

Ensuring your rental property is rent ready for the next tenant is critical for running your rental property business. When potential tenants schedule a viewing, at a minimum, they expect the house to be properly maintained and clean. Most individuals do not want to tour a home that looks dirty. Likewise, your potential tenant will have difficulty seeing themselves in the property if it feels dirty. For that reason, presenting a clean and well-maintained home is crucial. For tips to clean your rental property before listing, keep reading!

Cleaning Tips For Rental Property

There are many different cleaning products on the market today. Some products are fantastic and others not so much. So naturally, you want to choose products that will get the job done and be friendly to the environment. With that said, making your own DIY cleaning solution for green cleaning can be a good idea. 

Creating A Plan to Clean Your Rental Property

As a landlord, it’s vital to be organized before laying out the right plan for rent ready cleaning. It’s best to take the time to go through each room before you begin to optimize your time. That being taken into account, let’s review a few high-traffic areas that will be looked at by potential renters and see how we can get them ready for showing. 

The Kitchen

The kitchen is generally a key area of the home when it comes to deal or no deal for most renters. The kitchen is an area where friends and family come together. So, be sure to go through the kitchen and clean every inch.  

• Check the cabinets for items left behind and thoroughly clean and touch up scratches.
• Replace bulbs that may have burnt out.
• Wipe down all surfaces, including cabinet doors, cupboards, and shelving.
• Make sure all the appliances are clean and working properly.
• Mop and Sweep up the floors. 
• Disinfect and deodorize the refrigerator and freezer. 
• Clean the microwave
• Clean oven and stovetop.
• Disinfect and deodorize the dishwasher
• Clean the kitchen sink and deodorize the garbage disposal.

No one wants to view a rental home with lingering traces of dirt or odors from previous tenants. So, be sure the home is free of anything left behind. 

Bathrooms

Dirty bathrooms can make any home unappealing. Therefore, we recommend taking the following steps to ensure the bathrooms are ready for your next renter. 

• Wash the walls, outlets, doorknobs, light switches, and baseboards. 
• Replace all lights that have burnt out.
• Clean the countertops, sinks, and faucets.
• Make sure the window seals are well dusted.
• Clean and sanitize the toilets.
• Address showers and bathtubs, ensuring they are clean and free of stains
• When cleaning the shower and bathtub, be sure to address any issues with grout. 
• Wipe down all glass components.
• Sweep and mop the floors. 

Additionally, have the home professionally checked for mold and remediated if necessary.

Living Room, Bedrooms, and Dining Area

The living room, dining room, and bedrooms should look fresh and clean. The tasks below apply to all of these areas, with minor differences. For example, your bedroom might have carpet, while your dining room might have wood flooring or tile. It’s time to get your property in order for the next tenet. Follow these simple steps below for a rent ready property.

• Ensure no items are left behind; check all closets, cabinets, and shelving. 
• Clean the windowsills; windows and ledges should be wiped down and dusted.
• Replace lightbulbs that may have burnt out.
• Keep ceiling fans dusted and wiped down.
• Remove marks from the walls, and add a fresh coat of paint if necessary.
• Deep clean the carpets and mop, sweep or vacuum the floors.

Exterior Spaces

The first thing that any potential renter sees is the home’s exterior. A good first impression is essential, so make sure the outside of the home makes a lasting one. Ensure the home has a pleasant curb appeal to attract quality applicants. Clean up the outside of the home, considering the following items.

• Ensure all debris is cleared away, including fallen limbs from trees or garbage from trash cans.
• Mow the lawn and pull the weeds. 
• Trim all the trees, hedges, and bushes
• Clear the gutters.
• Keep the walkways and porch swept.
• Consider upping your landscaping with flowers or foliage. Adding some much-needed color attracts renters. 
• Keep all outdoor furniture clean.
• Ensure the light fixtures are in working order
• Clean the windows on the outside.

Do Not Forget the Garage

Never neglect the garage if your property has one. It’s just as important as the rest of the home. It’s often forgotten because no one expects the garage to be the most pristine area of the house, and it’s not known for its aesthetic appeal. It’s essential to make sure all garage areas are clean. All the walls, shelving, and flooring should be thoroughly dusted and wiped down for a rent ready viewing. Anything left in the garage that might be for the new renter should be stored away accordingly. Place the trash can neatly in the corner, and place awn equipment on shelving or wall storage. When everything is in its proper place, your potential renters will have a better idea of the size of the garage.  

Get Your Property Rent Ready!

Just as landlords expect a tidy property returned to them, renters expect to view property that is kept to the highest standard for cleanliness. Cleaning the property before showing it can make it more appealing to prospects. In addition, keeping your property rent ready for the next tenants will help ensure a short vacancy time for your property.  

Set your property up for success by contacting Real Property Management Consultants. We provide full-service property management, including finding and screening tenants, collecting rent, maintaining the property, handling evictions, and more. Our goal is to take the hassle out of being a landlord so that you can focus on what’s important to you. We hope you found our rent ready cleaning tips helpful and look forward to serving you.