LANDLORDING 102 – PREPARING THE PROPERTY FOR A TENANT KAREN RITTENHOUSE
7.
Bathrooms. Bathrooms must be clean. Make sure all light bulbs are working and the highest wattage
possible. No one likes a dingy or dirty bathroom. Again, you want all prospects to know that you care for
your property and the message you’re giving them is that you will expect the same condition when they
move out.
8.
Kitchen. Clean all appliances. Let tenants know they should be in the same condition upon move-out.
Appliances
Because appliances tend to break down (usually from neglect, not age) and are so often stolen when tenants
move out, decide whether or not you plan to supply them. Our homes come with a stove and oven and most
come with built-in dishwashers, but supplying refrigerators is optional and we don’t supply washers or dryers.
Here, your state law comes into play. Most states require provision of a stove and oven only. In some states, if it
is in the property when the resident moves in, the landlord is responsible to maintain it. If you rent to Section 8
residents, it is absolutely the landlord’s responsibility to maintain working condition on anything that is in the
property when the tenant moves in.
You decide whether you want to provide appliances and increase your rent accordingly, or not provide them to
eliminate responsibility. Some landlords provide appliances and charge additional fees for them. Know your
state laws.
Author: Karen Rittenhouse
Karen Rittenhouse has been investing in real estate full time since January 2005. In that time,
she has purchased hundreds of single family properties, opened a full-service real estate
company, a property management company, a coaching/training business, and written three
books on real estate, The Essential Handbook for Buying a Home, The Essential Handbook for
Selling a Home, and The Essential Handbook for Landlords.