Do you have a rental property that is about to be vacant? Maybe you’ve just purchased an investment property and are trying to secure your first tenant? How do you secure a quality tenant? What is a quality tenant?  For an in depth look at best practices for landlords, take advantage of the awesome deals offered by Groupon coupons and invest in the books on the subject available through AbeBooks.com.  For a general overview, follow these recommendations from the investment property experts to secure a lease from a quality tenant.

A quality tenant will follow the terms of the lease, pay the rent on time in full each month and take care of the property as if it were their own. So how do you secure a lease with such an individual?  Quality tenants are searching for quality properties. Take the time to bring your property up to date prior to marketing it and you’ll attract the type of tenant that will make your investment worth-while.

Start by addressing the exterior of the property if it is a single family home or townhouse. The landscaping should be well tended and the lawn maintained. Determine in advance if you will maintain the landscaping for the duration of the lease or if this is expected from the tenant.  Address any deferred maintenance issues on the exterior. A fresh coat of paint on the front door and shutters will go a long way in ramping up the curb appeal of the property.

The interior should be in excellent condition. Either hire professional cleaners or prepare to spend several days power cleaning the home. Pay special attention to the bathrooms and kitchen. Steam-clean the floors and carpets and power wash the windows.  Repaint all the rooms a light color and touch up the trim work and baseboards as needed. All appliances and windows should be in good working order. If there are lingering odors in the home, leave the windows open and run a fan for at least an entire say. Avoid the temptation to mask the odors with air fresheners.  Finally, take multiple photos of the property on the interior and exterior and prepare content accurately describing the home, room count and amenities.