The way you manage a new tenant's move-in process establishes the atmosphere for their entire stay. To build a positive landlord-tenant relationship, it's important to facilitate a seamless transition and extend a warm welcome. A comprehensive move-in checklist will certainly keep you organized, which is what we provide for you in this blog.
New Tenant Move-In Checklist for Landlords
1. Fixing Property Damage
Part of the move-out inspection for the old tenant is assessing property damage beyond normal wear and tear. Should you find any damage, you must make the necessary repairs immediately.
Use spackle to fill wall holes, add a fresh coat of paint, and ensure that the condition of the rental property is suitable for a new tenant. Check for unaddressed maintenance requests and fix the issues for the next tenant.
2. Thorough Cleaning
Even if the previous tenant managed to keep the rental property clean throughout their tenancy, there might be a few spots that they missed, like spaces behind closets, under the bed, or above tall furniture.
You would be better off hiring professional cleaners since they have the equipment to do a deep clean, especially for furniture fabrics, carpets, hard-to-reach spaces, and more.
3. Testing Security Measures
Part of your legal obligations as the property owner in Austin, TX is installing security measures like carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, as well as having fire extinguishers at the ready.
Texas is among the many states with a landlord-tenant law stating that landlords must repair or replace fire extinguishers if they are not functioning or have the incorrect pressure indicated on the gauge.
Furthermore, it would also be wise to change the locks of the rental unit before the new tenant moves in, given that the previous tenant may have spares even after surrendering the provided keys.
4. Checking the Appliances
If your rental property comes with furnishings and appliances, one of the crucial aspects of the moving process is ensuring that everything is in working order, especially appliances like the refrigerator, washer, dryer, stove, and others.
Do this before you show the new tenant moves in, given that you might have to show them how some of the appliances work.
5. Organizing the Lease Agreement
Both the landlord and the tenant must have a clear understanding of lease terms, such as the amount for a month's rent and security deposit, property maintenance, methods of paying rent, the process of reporting maintenance issues, when the lease ends, and more.
You can customize each lease agreement to the renter. For instance, you can charge a higher security deposit amount for rental units with more furnishings. Just keep in mind that in Texas, you are only allowed to charge three times the amount of the monthly rent.
Establish the move-in date early to avoid an overlap with your current tenant.
6. Offering Essential Supplies
After the move-in inspection of the rental property, you can provide essential supplies for your tenant along with a move-in letter containing your contact information. It's a nice gesture to provide a welcome letter since it shows you care about them.
Some of the essentials you can put in a welcome packet are toiletries like soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, or cleaning essentials.
7. Walk-Through With the Tenant
Before the new tenant moves in with their personal belongings, it's a good idea to walk them through the entire property personally to show effort. They might have a move-in checklist of their own and have questions about the condition of the property.
Before You Proceed With the Move-In
Move-Out Checklist for the Former Tenant
Starting the rental process for a new tenant before settling matters with the current tenant can cause problems during move-in day. A tenant checklist can help you assess the property's condition and make the necessary security deposit deductions.
The landlord and tenant checklist should include critical aspects of the move-out process, such as:
- Inspections to assess the potential damage
- Adherence to the lease agreement regarding the move-out process
- Handling the security deposit (if applicable)
- Return of property keys
- Collecting rent payments due
Provide tenants with a notice period before conducting move-out inspections, and make sure to have the tenant present while doing so. Creating a solid plan avoids overlap, preventing issues with the landlord and tenant.
Tenant Screening
Finding a new tenant for your rental business is not as simple. Even if you do get prospective tenants, you still need to screen them to determine whether they would be able to follow lease rules, pay the first month's rent to secure their tenancy, and every rent collection after that.
It can be a lot more complicated once the new tenant has moved in. To find out whether a potential tenant can follow your lease rules, you can use specific criteria, such as credit score, employment verification, criminal background, eviction history, and more.
Move-In Process FAQs
Should I charge tenants rent before they move in?
- Yes. The first month's rent is typically paid in advance as part of the initial deposit, along with a security deposit.
How much can I charge for a security deposit in Texas?
- There are no laws that limit the amount a landlord can charge a tenant in Austin, Texas, but the reasonable amount would be twice the monthly rent price.
Should landlords be present during move-in day?
- Not necessarily, but it is recommended. Renters moving in may have questions regarding the property and its facilities.
Leave the Stressful Process to Austin Property Management
Between finding a good tenant to assisting them during the move-in, a lot of time could be taken out of your schedule. Instead of doing other productive things, your time will be consumed by day-to-day tasks.
Hiring a property manager like Austin Property Management will not only help you earn passive income to focus on other profitable ventures, but we can also make sure you stay up-to-date on local laws and market trends.
While self-management is achievable, leaving the tedious work to professionals can be significantly beneficial for both you and your tenants.
Learn more about our services and contact us! We'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
