Our Expert Tips for Preparing Property for Rental and New Tenants

Published October 8, 2020. Updated October 3, 2023. 

If you're eager to find a new renter for your empty Charleston, SC property, you can't let a new resident move in until you handle a few critical tasks! The make-ready process prepares your rental property for an eager new resident. It also sets the tone for the start of a beautiful, long-term working relationship with your new renter.

What goes into getting a Mount Pleasant or North Charleston property ready for listing? Today, our Charleston property management experts talk about the importance of the make-ready process and how to put a solid plan in place to welcome new renters into your rental properties.

Why Bother Preparing Property for Rental and New Tenants?

New tenant move-in day is an important day! Preparing your property for renters to start a new lease term in their new rental home is a crucial aspect of building good landlord-tenant relationships.

By preparing a property for rental, property owners can:

• Put the rental's best face forward. The property needs a thorough cleaning and preparation process to capture your next renter's attention.

• Take advantage of time to make the property "like new." Fresh, clean, and updated single-family homes and multi-family units help delight a new resident.

• Make repairs and updates. It's also an excellent opportunity to take care of small updates, property maintenance, or other lingering issues to get your South Carolina rental property camera-ready for your listing.

Property investors can perform an expert-level make-ready process with the same techniques that our expert Charleston property managers use! Here are our top tips for property preparation.

Take Care of the Big Stuff

Did your previous renters leave a wake of destruction behind after they moved out of your Charleston rental property? We hope not—but even if your property is in decent condition after residents go, you might find some significant issues that need attention.

A vacant property is an ideal time to take care of significant issues before a new renter moves in. A thorough make-ready process helps property owners check a rental from top to bottom and then make a list of anything that needs repair.

If you've known of an ongoing non-emergency issue (like foundation cracks or shifts), this might be the time to call an expert to assess the problem and fix it. 

Add These Items To Your Checklist

Here's what our Charleston property managers note when we walk through a property:

• Flooring: Is it time to replace the old carpet?

• Appliances: How old are the dishwasher and stove?

• Walls: Is there any significant damage to repair before painting?

• Bathroom or kitchen fixtures: Did your former residents have ongoing issues with an aging toilet?

• Plumbing and water heater: Does the water heater still work efficiently?

• HVAC system: Will a tune-up be enough to keep it running well for new residents?

• Roof: Does it need repair—or replacement?

If any major items or appliances are near the end of their lifespan, the rental-ready is an excellent time to replace them before new residents deal with problems from aging appliances or a water heater. Plus, new items are an excellent selling point for potential renters! 

With new updates or small upgrades completed during the make-ready for your North Charleston rental property, you might also be able to increase the rent—justified by shiny new amenities for residents.

Don't Overlook the Small Stuff

Starting with your list of big-ticket repairs or replacements helps take care of those items that take longer to complete. Remember, you want to minimize the downtime it takes to complete the preparation process to make sure your rental doesn't sit vacant for too long.

Charleston, SC, property management companies recommend starting on significant repairs sooner to help maximize the efforts toward making your property ready to relist.

Next, it's time to take care of the small stuff for your Charleston rental properties!

• If you're keeping the carpet, make sure you have it thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. 

• Fill small cracks and holes in the walls, then repaint every room.

• Repair cracked grout and caulking in bathrooms and kitchen.

• Deep clean every surface throughout the home. 

• Replace window blinds.

• Cut the grass, prune trees, and take care of the landscaping.

• Make sure everything works! 

From light switches to faucets, make sure everything throughout the property works and welcomes a new resident. When potential renters start responding to your listing, you want a picture-perfect place to display for showings—even if it's virtual!

Catch up on Prevention

If your Charleston property is due for seasonal preventive maintenance, take care of it during the make-ready process.

With routine maintenance out of the way, you won't need to bother new residents immediately after they move in with a scheduled maintenance task. Plus, you and your new residents know the home is safe and ready for the upcoming season!

Set the Stage

Completing the rental-ready process means your rental is ready for listing and property showings!

Professional photos will show off every clean and resident-ready nook and cranny of your Charleston home rentals. Combine the photos with a compelling property listing to attract the very best next residents for your property! 

Our Charleston Property Management Services Welcome New Tenants

If the make-ready process sounds like a lot of work—it is! However, without the attention to detail and thorough repair, maintenance, and cleaning of this process, you risk longer vacancy times or residents who are unhappy while living in your property. 

Property investors don't need to handle this process on their own! Our Charleston property management company can do this (and more) for you! Charleston Property Company has the experience and expertise investors need to make quick (yet quality) work of getting your property ready to list and welcome new renters.

Reach out to learn more about our services!