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How to keep a vacant Property Safe?

Introduction

Landlords may locate themselves with vacant property for a multiple of reasons such as because of the renovation process, difficulties connecting with tenants. Vacant property can endure the significant danger. Some of the most prominent warnings to vacant homes are pretended by weather-related phenomena like storm injury, or flooding. Damage caused because of these natural calamities can be destructive and happen with minimal warning or notice.

Except for the damage caused by Nature, there are some more obstacles which vacant property faces are exceptionally helpless. The best example is a criminal activity. Without the unfavorable impact of tenants and the neighbors, a vacant property is a winning destination for offenders and thieves. They may plan to remove the copper pipes, appliances, and sometimes simply make damage to the property. However, the landlords are the one who has to pay for it.

To protect your vacant property from damage, consider the following tips:

Lock and Secure all Doors & Windows

One of the most important and first step is to lock all the doors and windows securely. In addition, ensure that all doors and windows are locked with added padlocks as required.

If you are far away from your property, you can also consider leaving an extra key with trusted neighbour, friends or relative in the nearby location. This way you can check on the property whenever needed or to let someone inside or for routine maintenance and cleaning. Also make sure to shut off the water and drain the pipes. There have been instances of people who failed to do this and their house was flooded. It is also important to remove unwanted items and valuables from your vacant property.

Execute routine maintenance

A home left unattended will start to deteriorate over a period of time. You have to do regular property maintenance by yourself or you can take the help of a property maintenance service or trusted relative, friend or neighbour. Whatever the case is, it is crucial to make sure the cleaning & maintenance is done regularly. This process will give an impression that there is a constant presence of people at the property and will also serve as an obstacle to illegal activity on the property. Additionally, it will also help to detect the problems before they get converted to more significant issues. For example, leakage of pipe, damage caused by natural calamities or pest, entry of birds / animals and take appropriate action to prevent the same.

During regular maintenance – run the water regularly and flush all toilets, run the amenities (like air conditioners, water filter etc) regularly, open the windows and doors periodically to get rid of the vacant house smell, collect and remove mails / magazines / newpapers (or have them delivered to appropriate address), check and secure doors and windows, check for signs of damages or forced entry, check for any birds / animal entry, check on all the doors & locks.

Fire prevention

Ensure that the outside surface of the property is free from papers, cardboard, and any other fire-friendly trashes, and also flammable substances. It is also advisable to switch off the Main Electricity Power to prevent any unforeseen short circuit.

Use Technology, Security & Surveillance

Locate outstanding security cameras encompassing the property. You can also consider motion light detectors. These lights will turn on if someone walks around your property. Any intruder is less likely to get into your property when there is a spot light on him. You can also think of installing timers to switch on and switch off lights so that intruders will get a feeling that someone is inside the house.

Conclusion

Like how one size does not fit all, you have to understand what all needs to be done to take care of your vacant property depending on the type of property, amenities in the property, neighbourhood, etc. Guarding your vacant property while it is vacant necessitates a moment of foresight.
If you are going to be away from your property for a long time, it is best advisable to hire a Professional Property Management Company.

how to find good tenants

How To Find Good Tenants

Finding a good tenant is really important for any Land Lord. Landlords want tenants who will pay the rent on time, take care of the property and not do any damage to the property, not cause a nuisance to the neighbors/anyone, no criminal background, etc – How To Find Good Tenants.

how to find good tenants

How To Find Good Tenants

The first step is to evaluate the market scenario of the rentals and to understand your target tenant that is what type of tenant you want – bachelors, family, corporate guest house or company or commercial. For example, there may be a demand for bachelor accommodation and whether you are willing to rent it out to them or only to a family.

There are lots of tips that you can gather from various online sources and advisors, friends, families, neighbors and we are listing a few of them below:

  • How do I market my Property – online ads, newspaper ads, referrals, to let board on the property, etc.?
  • What to include in the Advertisement?
  • Show a Well Maintained House.
  • Prepare a Rental application 
  • Tenant Screening
  • Choose a stable and tenant with good credit.

When you meet up with the tenant – get to know more about him – his native, work-related stuff, the reason for moving in, habits, the intended period of stay and all the relevant questions along with a few references (and check if there are any common references)

Look for a good tenant

The task of the Landlord is to attract people who will be the best fit for the property and gel well with the neighbors (and of course the landlord). The Landlord-Tenant Relationship is an ongoing, mutual and long term expected relationship. Because when a tenant vacates early, it is an expense to the tenant and loss of income to the owner.
It is good to do all the checks and screening to get a good tenant. It is also important to listen to your gut feeling / natural instinct to understand/foresee as to how it will be with the tenant. In my experience of Property Management Services which we provide in Chennai, I understood that like how a landlord looks for a good tenant, the best of the tenants also look for the best of landlords.

Related Articles
1. Want to rent your house – know Tenant Priorities
2. Tenant Screening
3. Prepare your Property For Rent
4. Ascertaining Rental Value

How to find good Tenants

When you wish to find the best tenants for your rental property, you must advertise discreetly, contribute a great home for rent, and proceed with a thorough tenant screening process. These tips will aid you to recognize and draw the best possible tenants for your rental property.

Present a Great Property

The best tenants always wanted to relish in the best homes. Before you list it on the market, ensure it is systematized and functional. Pay keen attention to stuff like curb appeal so that people passing by the property will crave to come in and check it out. You don’t have to blow a lot of money on renovations, but address a few small and affordable amends that will seize the attention of the best tenants. New floors and appliances can go a long way, as can fresh paint and clean landscaping.

Market Your Property skilfully

Getting Rent sign in the yard is obviously great, but you can’t just post the sign and expect for tenants to come to next to your yard. You need to advertise online, where the bulk of prospective tenants are connected seeking properties. Design a website featuring your property details and make it available on all the sites that tenants use, such as Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads. Once people start contacting for your ad, be active and responsive. Do a short prescreening over the phone to assure they have adequate income to afford the home and the time for which the house should be available. Show up the property and follow up with an application.

Tenant Screening Method

The tenant screening process is essential to find the best tenants. Make an application that gathers all the required information and grants you with permission to perform a thorough background check. Remember you’re looking for someone who can pay rent consistently and take great care of your home. Checking credit history and felonious backgrounds is essential, and you also need to confirm employment and income. The most important part of your screening process, however, is the rental history. Talk to current and former landlords about the tenant.

Opt for a Property Management Company

You know it very well that the landlord alone cannot be able to manage everything as it is a huge task. If you’re deciding to manage everything on your own, you’re eventually going to overtake the end of your thread. The right option a landlord can do is select a trained property management company to support you regarding the property management. A property management company can manage as many of your responsibilities as you’d solicit along with Tenant screening process.