
1. Before Your Current Tenants Move Out
Set Expectation – Ask your current tenants if there is anything wrong with the house, if things are not working, etc. so you can make the appropriate phone calls to solve the problems. Set an expectation that you will be giving the tenants the necessary notice to make the needed changes to your property to make things even better for the current and future group.
Get The Small Things Out Of The Way – The exterior of the property is something that can always be worked in. Small things such as smoke alarm maintenance, furnace filters, light bulb replacement, buying materials (paint/trim/etc.) for contractors, lining up cleaning companies for April 30, carpet cleaners, etc. can all be structured and completed in advance of the new group moving in.
2. April 30 – Deadline Day for Current Tenants
Move Out – Once the tenants move out, all of the small things should have already been taken care of or at least brought to your attention to solve. On April 30, when students typically leave their rental properties, Landlords need to have clean crews, carpet cleaners, a handyman to get all the small jobs completed, a locksmith, grounds crew, etc. in and out of the property to solve all of the issues and make sure that the house is in great shape and great conditioning for the new group of students moving in on May 1.
Move In – The key with the move in date is to make sure that all of the students get a key to the property on this day so that they do not need one at a later date as you would need to plan another trip to your property. Make sure to complete a smoke alarm maintenance checklist report, a move in report with the new group, as well as take exterior/interior photos of your property (to use for your advertisements next year).
This advice applies to Landlords who are renting to new groups of students for May 1 and who are not planning and major renovations projects in their properties. If you didn’t get your student rental property rented for May 1, then there may be issues with you marketing, location, pricing, and quality of your product. Addressing these issues over the summer while your student rental property is empty will ensure successfully renting out your student house for September 1.