If you currently live in Seattle and own several homes in which you're looking to prepare for renting, then you're probably wondering how to go about successfully preparing your houses for rent in Seattle. If you're not residing or using the houses, renting them out can be a great way to make some additional cash each month. In order to prepare houses for renting in Seattle, you may need the help of a professional. However, with people being so money conscience these days, most people are preparing the majority of their rental homes themselves.
The first step to successfully preparing your houses for rent in Seattle is to find a home inspection checklist. You can find one of these from practically any home improvement website. Print the inspection checklist and keep it nearby as it will be of great help in the next step. From there, roam your house and check off each individual section of the checklist, one by one. Near each check mark, make sure to mark down the condition of the individual section. If the section needs minor repairs, then simply make sure to note that. If it needs major repairs, note that as well. The whole purpose of using a checklist is to make it easier on you. All the information you'll need to get your homes rental ready will be on this checklist.
The second step to successfully preparing your houses for rent in Seattle is to go through the checklist and make all the repairs that are needed. Many small and minor repairs can be fixed by you, with just a little help from a DIY home repair website. However, it may be a better idea to use a professional contractor for the bigger and more complicated repairs. Plus, with a professional contractor, you'll be sure that you meet the building codes for the repairs.
The third step to successfully preparing your houses for rent [http://ballardrealtyinc.com/rental_listings] in Seattle is to test all the plumbing and repairing any fixtures that may need it. In order to text fixtures, simply turn them on for a good five minutes and turn them off. This is just a quick way to make sure everything is working the way it's supposed to. In order to check the plumbing, look for any leaks or water damage to ceilings, walls or floors. If there are any plumbing or fixture issues, you will then need to make the repairs on these. If you cannot do this yourself, hire the assistance of a plumber.
The fourth step to successfully preparing your houses for rent in Seattle is to make sure that all the electric works. This means testing out light switches and electrical sockets. If there is any damage to either, obtain the help of a professional electrician. The fifth step to successfully preparing your houses for rent in Seattle is to make sure it is clean and visually appealing. Make sure you've removed any old furniture which could be considered an eye sore. You also will want to rid the house of clutter and belongings. Make sure everything is either placed neatly in bins or stored nicely in closets. If there are rips, tears or stains in the carpet, make sure that the carpets get steam cleaned before showing the house. If wooden floors are worn and torn up, make sure they are repaired before showing the house.
Lastly, the exterior of a property and the landscaping of a property is extremely important to someone who is looking to rent. You will want to make sure the house has a nice fresh coat of paint on it and that any exterior damage is fixed. You also will want to make sure the hedges are trimmed, lawn is mowed and the overall appearance of the yard is welcoming.