One of the things about renting out property that people don’t really think about is what to do after a tenant leaves. Of course, if you’ve got experience renting out your place then you probably know that it’s a fairly hectic time. But if you’re new to the rental property market and are still on your first tenant, then it’s a good idea to be prepared for when they eventually leave.

So in this post, we’ll be covering four things to do when they vacate your property.

1. Thoroughly inspect your property

Firstly, make sure you inspect your property thoroughly to check for any damage or issues that may have been caused by the tenant.

You’ll want to compare this to any previous references you have for the property. This means checking the current state of all your furniture, photographs before the tenant moved in, and so on. Next, be sure to document any damage that you find, especially if you can prove that it was undamaged before the tenant moved in. Documenting this will be vital in regards to your security deposit.

Take note of any repairs and cleaning tasks as well so that you can get those sorted out before your next tenant moves in.

2. Perform any repairs or maintenance needed

Next, you’ll want to perform repairs and maintenance as needed. Fix any damage that you’ve identified during the inspection, perform routine maintenance, and carry out a deep cleaning of the property.

You may want to get in touch with a waste clearance company and a cleaning business to help you empty and clean the entire property, especially if you’ve got carpets and furniture that’ll be used by the next tenant, or if there’s a lot of trash and debris that your previous tenant has yet to throw out.

3. Remember the security deposit

Keep all the receipts for any repairs that you’ve had to pay for, as the cost can come out of your tenant’s security deposit, especially if they go beyond what would be considered normal wear and tear. Just remember to be extremely transparent about this and to be fair to your tenant.

If you deduct anything from the security deposit, make sure you provide an itemized list explaining to the tenant why you’ve made deductions and what the costs are for.

You can then send back the remainder of the deposit (or the full amount if there were no outstanding repairs) and you’re officially done with the previous tenant.

4. Get the property ready for new tenants

Lastly, you can start preparing the property for new tenants. This can involve staging the property to make it look more appealing, taking newly updated photographs if you’ve made any changes, and also advertising to popular rental websites so that you can schedule new viewings.

It’s also a good idea to screen new tenants to ensure they’re reliable. Following these steps will ensure a smooth transition while also keeping your property in good shape.