Rent Ready Standards

Home walk through

As you go through the checklist, we ask that you take a step back and evaluate your property as a potential resident would. Remove the “I own this home and it’s the best” mindset. Instead, walk out to the street, then walk through the property inside and out. Look at it as if you were paying your hard-earned money to rent this home. Does it feel like a place you’d want to live? Based on the condition, does the property make you feel confident that this Owner/Landlord will treat you fairly, or does it make you wonder if you’re dealing with a slumlord? How does it REALLY look?

• Would you be proud or embarrassed to host mom for dinner?

  Our expectation is to set the bar from the first time a potential Resident sees the property online to their experience through the entire process. Ask yourself these questions.

  • Exterior: Is it well maintained? Are there weeds? Do the bushes and trees need attention? Is there a bunch of old pots and random bricks scattered about?
  • Interior: Go room by room. Pay attention to the details.
    • Floors: How do they look? Are they nice and clean?
    • Baseboards and Trim: Are they clean, un-scuffed? Are they caulked?
    • Ceilings: How do they look? Are they clean? Are there holes, old water stains, and random hooks?
    • Walls: How do they look? Are they wild colors or mismatched paint? Are they full of nail holes, cracks, and poor drywall patches? Do they need paint? Do they look nice and clean?
    • Doors: Do they function smoothly or do they drag on the carpet, hit the wall, and sag on the hinges? Is there a doorstop protecting the wall?
    • Windows: Do they function? Are they clean? Do they have screens? Are the screens bent or full of holes or sun-damage? How about window coverings? Are they covered in old drapes and outdated curtains? These need to go. How are the window sills? We require clean and functional blinds.
    • Switch Plate Covers: Are they cracked? Does every outlet and switch have one? Are they clean? Do they match?
    • Lights/Fans and Fixtures: Do they work? Are the light bulbs matching and fixture appropriate? Are they clean?
    • Closet: Is there a closet rod? Do the lights work and have matching bulbs?

  The list goes on and on and you get the point. Take special care in the bathrooms and kitchen, and don’t forget about the garage, yard, and exterior.

• Step 3. Rentable Condition Requirements

  Below is the list we will be looking for and requiring to be addressed prior to moving to Step 4. Marketing. You are welcome to complete any and all of this list on your own prior to us conducting this inspection. Our inspectors will handle any easy upkeep items for you while they are at the property to save you time and money. There is a cost for the items they complete.

  Rent Right is more than happy to expedite this process and take any and all of this off of your plate. We can utilize vendors and oversee getting your property into rentable condition on your behalf. If you choose this route, we will need funds prior to ordering work. Any delays in funds also delay the scheduling of work which ultimately delays getting a Resident.

  Requirements for Step 3. Rentable Condition are listed below:

  1. Remove or haul away all personal property. This includes items in the yard, crawlspace, attic, etc.
  2. Yard Maintained until Resident moves in.
  3. Utilities must be turned on in your name.
  4. Rekey – all doors should use the same key (4 copies required).
  5. Mail Box Keys. If keyed, 4 copies are required.
  6. Garage Door Remotes. Must be working, 2 minimum for 2-car garages.
  7. Ceiling Fan Remotes. Working and labeled, preferably mounted with Velcro.
  8. Codes. Provide all gate, garage, and alarm codes.
  9. New HVAC filters. Leave a few spares; date-marked recommended.
  10. Smoke/CO Detectors. Must be under 10 years old and in working order.
  11. Current Fire Extinguisher onsite. Place under the kitchen sink.
  12. Light Bulbs. Must match and be appropriate for their fixture.
  13. Refrigerator. Must have new water filters installed.
  14. Fireplaces. Professionally inspected or notify us if non-functional.
  15. Remove ring doorbells and/or cameras.
  16. All showers/tubs must have curtain rods. Fixtures must be caulked and stoppers working.
  17. All doors must have doorstops. Prefer spring type.
  18. Garbage disposal. Leave a disposal wrench if applicable.
  19. Dryer vents must be cleaned for fire prevention.
  20. Attic access must be fire-rated per code.
  21. Interior doors to garage must be solid, self-closing, and no dog doors/windows.
  22. Windows must lock, have screens, and blinds (no drapes).
  23. Interior doors must latch, and no key-locking knobs.
  24. Patch and Paint. Remove nails/hooks, paint full wall if needed.
  25. Professionally Cleaned. No resident move-in unless it's clean.
  26. Carpets Professionally Cleaned. Required before move-in.
  27. Everything must be functional and in working order.

  If an amenity, appliance, etc. is used to induce the Residents to pay more rent than the legal as well as Rent Right’s requirement, it will be maintained in working order throughout the Residents tenancy.

• Why?

  Every Owner wants to know why. The short answer is cumulative experience. This list wasn’t created in a vacuum in order to make Owners spend money. It’s based on our experience managing over 800 units, the lessons we’ve learned, the mistakes we’ve made, and the money we’ve missed out on. We’ve learned a lot, and we adapt every day in a rapidly changing industry. Our 10-Step Rental Process is designed to generate fantastic returns and build equity for our Owners.

Rentals are a business, and we approach them as such.

• We want Residents who pay on time, take care of the property, and stay.
• We want the property to be maintained and increase in equity.
• We want to protect everyone’s best interests.

The above list isn’t a suggestion—it’s a requirement for doing business with Rent Right. It’s a collection of best practices we've developed through years of hands-on experience.

Trust us. Trust the process. It works.