Becoming a landlord means having to deal with different situations and scenarios. If you are new to landlording, chances are excellent you haven't yet fully experienced some of its downsides. Sure, it provides an ostensible passive income stream. But, with the work that goes into routine upkeep, collecting rent, and more, you do put in substantial effort to earn that extra revenue. So, what do you do with an ex-tenant's junk? Here, you'll find a few solid rental property cleanout tips.
New Landlord Rental Property Cleanout Tips
The first order of business is to document what the tenant left behind. In most cases, you can't simply discard personal items. For instance, clothing, electronics, and even things like an old sleeper sofa. It's still legally the tenant's possessions but that doesn't remain the case forever. You might have to store that stuff for a short period, attempt to contact the tenant, and follow other Florida Landlord Tenant law.
In most states and jurisdictions, security deposit laws allow a landlord to deduct from a security deposit for any damage or excessive dirtiness, but not for any expected, normal wear-and-tear. Sometimes a security deposit is called a "damage deposit," and is generally some amount of money that the landlord is able to hold on to if a rental property needs any cleaning or repairs, in order to return the property to the condition it was in when the renter first moved in. - --Find Law.com
But, if you just bought a residence, be it a traditional single family, foreclosure, or short sale, you might have to deal with left-behind junk. In these cases, you might consider going with a property cleanout service over a dumpster rental because it's often less expensive and certainly less laborious. But, if it's not too much to deal with on your own, you can use the following new landlord rental property cleanout tips to get the house ready to show:
- Organize everything. Make a note of everything that's in and on the property. Choose which items you'll keep and separate it from the junk you'll throw out. For example, if there are extra useable tiles for the floor, that's something to keep. Other odds and ends might include a garden house, interior paint, and so on.
- Make needed repairs. Create a list of things that need repair. Then, decide which are DIY feasible and which require a professional. For instance, you might replace a busted lock but leave electrical wiring and plumbing systems to experienced, licensed professionals.
- Clear and clean the exterior. Once everything that's broken is fixed, you should clear and clean the exterior. Pick up everything from the yards, then power wash or pressure wash the exterior, and give the curb appeal a little pop.
- Clean and sanitize the interior. Now, it's time to finish up by cleaning and disinfecting the interior. Do this last so you aren't tracking in and out of the house. Clean every room from top to bottom and sanitize all surfaces.
If you need a rental property cleanout done for a house, duplex, or other space, just phone 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services.