Smooth Tenant Move-Ins
Today, I want to talk about move-ins. This topic comes from a subscriber who asked how we properly move in a resident.
After the application screening process, the move-in is how you'll start your relationship with your tenant. It's crucial to get this process right, create a great experience, and build a solid foundation for your relationship. If you find this information valuable, please like, subscribe, or share, and feel free to provide feedback anytime.
Setting Up the Portal
The first step in a smooth move-in process is setting up a portal. We communicate this through our website, ensuring that residents are informed throughout the approval and move-in process. For small landlords, sharing banking details might suffice, but there are plenty of free management tools available. Residents should set up maintenance request channels in advance to avoid any emergencies or lack of contact, ensuring issues like a leaky faucet are addressed quickly.
Collecting First Full Month's Rent
This is non-negotiable for us; we collect the first full month’s rent regardless of the move-in date. Collecting a full rent amount ensures you have financial security if the tenant defaults early on. Allow sufficient clearance time for checks or electronic payments, typically seven business days, to safeguard against bounced payments before granting property access.
Utility Transfers
Tenants may forget or misunderstand utility transfers, so we maintain open communication. Prior to move-in, remind them to transfer utilities—water, gas, electricity—as agreed in the lease. A failure in this step can lead to significant damage; a lapse caused a $30,000 burst pipe damage due to a utility oversight. Proper handling of utility transfers can prevent such disasters.
Completing the Move-In Condition Forms
In Texas, we request tenants complete a move-in condition form within three days. This protects both our interests and aids in dispute resolution when they vacate. Although not mandatory, it's a strong recommendation we extend to tenants as a safeguard.
Sending a Welcome Gift
Emerson offers a small gesture—a welcome gift through Etsy—to mark a positive start. This isn’t an owner expense, nor a requirement, but a kind gesture that starts the relationship on a positive note. The gift shows residents that we value them beyond transactional relations and encourages goodwill.
Conducting a Move-In Call
After their move-in, we schedule a call with our resident services department. We cover essentials like the breaker box, water shutoff valve, and our emergency contact information. We also address any questions, ensuring they know how to manage their new home effectively, such as resetting passwords or navigating our portal.
In summary, whether managing one property or a hundred, follow this checklist to maintain organization and foster strong tenant relationships:
Set up a tenant portal.
Collect first month's full rent.
Ensure clear utility instructions.
Complete the move-in condition form.
Send a small welcome gift.
Conduct a thorough move-in call.
This proactive approach helps avoid problems and establishes a professional rapport with tenants. If you have additional feedback or unique approaches to move-ins, I'd love to hear about them. Thanks for tuning in, and see you next week!
