Throughout your career as a Toronto landlord, you’re going to see many tenants come and go – it’s in your best interest that the process be as smooth as possible. A smooth transition lets you hand the keys over to new tenants sooner, and ensures that your property is handed over in the same condition as it was when your previous tenants moved in. New tenants are going to expect that their new home is in good shape, and that any existing damages or problems have been dealt with before they move in. Having a move-in and move-out checklist ready to go when tenants are ready to move in or out can help make the process a seamless one.
The importance of the move-out checklist
The transition between tenants can be a chaotic one, especially if you’re hosting multiple tenants who are ready to move on or who are incoming. Having consistent move-in and move-out checklists helps to ensure that these processes are as smooth as possible, and will make all future move-in and move-out situations consistent.
Doing so saves you time and stress, letting you pinpoint things like damages, pest problems, repairs, and other issues before new tenants move in, and lets you deduct necessary costs from a tenant’s security deposit in the event that they have caused serious damages. Move-in and move-out checklists don’t just benefits landlords – they also ensure that tenants will not have to pay for pre-existing damages, or for repairs that they are not responsible for covering.
Creating clear and comprehensive checklists
When you’re developing move-in and move-out checklists, it’s important to make them as clear and comprehensive as possible. You’ll want to clearly document who the tenant(s) is at move-in and move-out time, when the move-in or move-out date is, what property is the subject of your checklist(s), and any pre-existing damages or issues with the property.
This is also where you’ll be able to discuss the terms and conditions of the lease with your tenants, establishing the need for tenants to contact you immediately in the event of urgent maintenance or damages, for them to keep the property in reasonable shape, and what will happen in the event of damages that haven’t addressed, i.e. fees being taken from the security deposit.
Document any major changes or damages to the unit
Once you’ve established something of a process, you’ll want to add a comprehensive checklist of every room, area, and features of your property. While doing this, be sure to take detailed notes and photographs of every room in the unit – this will help you keep track of existing damages and imperfections that may have been caused by existing or past tenants, saving your new tenants money and stress.
Be sure to carefully examine walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, locks, lighting fixtures, electrical outlets, appliances, smoke detectors, and other aspects of each room. Documenting existing damage and the general state of your property will also give you the chance to identify pest problems prior to your new tenants moving in, letting you address a potentially major problem prior to their arrival.
Creating and upholding effective and comprehensive move-in and move-out checklist can be a lot of work, but can pay off in spades for you, your property, and your present and future tenants. The best way to save yourself the time and stress in ensuring a smooth move-in and move-out transition is by hiring the services of a property management company like Highgate Properties. Our team of property management experts are experienced in identifying areas of damage and other issues that require attention, handling communication with tenants, and saving you time and energy so that you can attend to the things that matter most in your life.
For more information about the property management and realty services offered by the experienced team at Highgate Properties, contact us today.
