16 Things Owners Need To Do To Get Their Rental Ready For Property Management

Here is a list of things that should be helpful to most owners getting started. The important thing is to create a baseline to work from, so when your tenant leaves they know what is to be expected of them. 

1. Entire house, attic, garage & shed should be clean and free of all personal property. Anything left behind is not likely be there when you return.

2. All doors, window facings and baseboards cleaned and painted or touched up as needed.

3. Blinds clean and in good working order. Replace old and broken blinds with inexpensive ones.

4. Ceiling & exhaust fans should be in good working order. Noisy fans should be replaced.  Ceiling fans with remotes should be in working order with fresh batteries. 

5. Ensure all light bulbs, switches, outlets and fixtures are in good working order.

6. All appliances, vents & filters (air & refrigerator) clean and in good working order. 

7. Kitchen & baths need to sparkle. Sinks and tubs have to have working stoppers and properly caulked where needed.

8. Have carpets professionally cleaned.

9. Have dryer vent, fireplace & chimney professionally inspected and cleaned.

10. Install "heavy duty" door stops behind each door.

11. Heating & A/C system serviced and new filter(s) installed.

12. Provide current code and instructions for security system.

13. Garage door opener & remote(s) need to be in good working order and have fresh batteries. Provide current code and instructions for using exterior key pad.

14. Have grass freshly cut, all flower beds clean & weeded and install fresh mulch. Provide name & number of who will cut grass until rented if necessary.

15 Repair wall holes and touch-up and/or paint where needed.

16. Provide good notes and instructions for unique things about your home that can help the tenant and your property manager in the future.

I hope you found this list of items helpful.  If you have any questions or need a referral to hire someone to help perform any of these tasks to prepare your home for property management, please feel free ask me about my approved vendor list.  

Jorge Gonzalez 757.287.3400

Why Does My Heat Pump Air Feel Cold When My Heat Is On?

A Virginia Beach tenant called me today with a common concern for people who have heat pumps, so I thought I would share the answer.  The tenant stated, "I think something is wrong with my heat pump since the air feels cool to the touch when the heat is on."

If your house has a heat pump and the heat normally feels luke warm or even cold, it is because of the way a heat pump works by extracting heat from the cold air outside.  Gas and oil heat will always feel warmer to the touch, since it is actually burning fuel to create heat. 

There is an easy way to improve how the temperature feels inside a house with a heat pump and that is by using a whole house humidifier during the colder months.  The extra moisture in the air will make it feel warmer.  Since the heat is also dry, the added moisture in the air will also eliminate most static electricity too.  

I have a whole house humidifier in my own home and love it, especially on cold nights it will make a big difference.  I just don’t recommend using it over 55 degrees or so, because it makes it feel too warm and humid for me.  If you have a 2-story home, the best place to keep it is near staircase, since the humidity will also travel upstairs too. 

Jorge Gonzalez

Owner's - If You Moved This Year, Please Remember To Update Your W-9

The IRS requires property owners to fill out a new IRS Form W-9 each time they move.  We are obligated to submit rental property income and your address to the IRS for reporting purposes.  It is your responsibility to ensure we know you have moved to keep your account up date.  If your address is not up to date, the IRS has a right to fine you.  Nobody wants to see that happen and the form probably takes 5 minutes to fill our and return to me.  

If you have moved this year and have not filled out a new W-9 yet, please let me know and I will forward you the form.  If is a very simple form to fill out and return.