The Savvy Medical Landlord's Guide to Preparing for a New Tenant
Hello hello! Welcome back to another edition of listing love, where we help you with tips, tricks and resources to have the very best experience as a MedsHousing landlord! You bring so much value to our platform as trusted, high-quality landlords for our amazing medical tenants and we thank you every day!
Today, we're getting into how to prepare your listing for a new tenant - all the little things to make sure you've got done to make move-in as smooth as possible!
1. Make sure your “I”s are dotted and “T”s are crossed!
Before your new tenant moves in, make sure that you've received all copies of your keys from the previous occupant - or that you've found all of yours! If you have multiple keys (for a storage unit, laundry room, etc.) consider labeling the keys so that your tenant isn't fumbling for access to their new home!
MedsTips: Some landlords chose to go with keyless entry systems; Super convenient and you can change the code between tenants. Wifi actiovated even better!
Another key consideration is making sure that your paperwork is all in order! Tenants should be screened early for any potential issues (do your due dilligence, Facetime, references, proof of employment or school enrollemnt etc) and should be sent a fair and thorough rental agreement well before move-in day. Showing proof of the right to rent your property is always important. Check local regulations regarding landlord and tenant rights, obligations for local rental property licensing, landlord notice of renewal/non-renewal, tenant obligations regarding end of tenancy notice, local short term laws and check the policies around first and last month's rent/damage deposits! Don't get caught assuming anything.
2. Feeling safe and secure
Do a quick sweep of the apartment and change out batteries in all fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and security alarms.
(MedsTips: have incoming tenant sign a paper they have checked above with you and are all in working order. Often it is their responsibility to replace batteries when alerted. We recommend landlord check once a year nonetheless)
These aren't things that you want your tenants to mess around with, and an incessant beep isn't conducive to the rest our hardworking medical renters need!
If it's been a while, also consider having a professional briefly come by to check the unit for any hazards. We've been having a wet and cold winter - show your property in the best light by getting a professional's once-over for issues like fungus, mold, or cracks in walls and ceilings. This benefits your tenants, and also protects you as a landlord from costly unforeseen repairs.
Water is a property owner's enemy. Let the tenant know you expect to be notified of any drips, water leaks on walls, toilet leaking and ceilings within 24 hours of noted incident. Ice-damming in Northern climates can cause huge damage.
Turning off outside taps should be on pre-winter schedules along with notifying tenants to open cupboard doors under any sinks on outside walls to allow warm air flow during sub zero weather.
3. Refresh to impress!
Ever wonder how massive professional developments look crisp, clean, and pristine no matter how many tenants go through the space? The answer is easier than you think - they refresh between tenants.
This can be as cheap and simple as washing the walls/dry erasing any marks, or can extend all the way to repainting the space and putting up new window trimmings. If you're a confident DIY-er, this isn't terribly expensive (somewhere around $60/room for supplies), and really brightens up a space!
Furnished units can always do with refresh steam clean/wash slip covers and carpets, check for broken kitchenwares etc. A fresh new frying pan or pot often is a warm welcome.
We often add a local "welcome" treat such as a jam, chocolate, or a bottle of wine.
Have a "Welcome Notebook" with all the essential contacts, codes, handy neighbourhood tips, garbage schedules, recycling /compost regulations, local transportation apps, great take out joints, grocery shops and cafes. They will appreciate not having to reinvent the wheel!
Tips from previous Medical Trainees is always a great asset.
4. Clean it up
An oldie but a goodie - there's no substitute for a professional deep clean between tenants! Don't forget to take care of oft-overlooked areas like behind the fridge/stove, bathroom filters, stove vents, baseboards, window treatments and outdoor spaces. Carpet cleaning and soft furnishings in fursnihed properties can be a major improvement as well, if it's within your time and budget constraints.
5. Make sure it all works!
Last but certainly not least, it's important to just do a quick check on all appliances, and glance over your space for damages, burned out light bulbs etc. Compile anything you find onto a move-in report, and - if you can - look over this with your tenant to have a written record of the listing's condition at move-in and have them sign it. In six months, neither of you will remember if there were scratches on the kitchen baseboards, but having a record ensures that the cost of any maintenance/repair is distributed fairly!
Well folks, that's it for us this week! If you found this helpful, or have any questions, please feel free to drop us a line at . We're always more than happy to help.
Considering if a medical student, resident or fellow as a tenant is right for you - well, that's next week's topic! Stay safe, stay warm, and we'll see you back here next week.
With lots of love -
