Here's Everything You Need to Know about Cleaning Your Anaheim Income Property to Prepare for New Tenants
When a tenant moves out of your rental property in Anaheim, your first instinct probably is to list the vacancy right away and get a new tenant in there as quickly as possible. Hold your horses there, landlord!
Before you get a new tenant in the property, there are some things you need to do to prepare the property for them. One of these things is to clean it properly.
When showing your rental property to potential tenants in Anaheim, you’ll be more likely to fill it when it’s in pristine condition. Tenants must be attracted to the property and picture themselves living in such a beautiful and clean space.
So, to ensure you’re cleaning your rental property properly before listing it, we’ve created the ultimate checklist, so you don’t miss a single thing.
The kitchen is the heart of the home – and one of the messiest places in the house. With oil spattering from frying pans, eggs falling and breaking on the floor, to food caught in the sink drain, there can be a lot to clean up.
The best way to tackle properly cleaning a kitchen is to break it down!
Scrub down the stove, microwave, and refrigerator. If there is any food left in the fridge, throw it out before it rots. Make sure to put the oven on an auto-clean setting too.
If you have difficult stains or dried food on the sides of the microwave, cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a microwave-safe bowl filled with water. Place the two halves in the bowl and place it in the microwave on high for five to ten minutes. Remove the bowl (it might be hot!) and wipe down the sides.
It’s also a good idea to check that all of the appliances are working properly. The last thing you want to do is have a new tenant move in and find they can’t cook their dinner.
No matter how careful we are, food always tends to fall down the sink drain while doing the dishes. Or maybe you have a garbage disposal that is starting to smell a bit rotten.
To clean the drain, pour half a cup of baking soda down it followed by half a cup of vinegar. It will bubble, so don’t be surprised at the reaction. Then, on the hottest setting, run water for about 30 seconds. This should clean it right out and leave it smelling fresh.
Wipe down the sink, faucet, and edges, and you’re good to go!
Whether there are stains or leftover food, you’ll want to give the counters a good wipe down before a new tenant moves in.
Remember those broken eggs we mentioned earlier? You’ll definitely want to wash the floors to lift up any dirt, crumbs, or stains the previous tenant may have left. This can be done with a heavy-duty machine or a simple mop and bucket.
The living areas and bedrooms in your Anaheim rental property hopefully don’t require too much cleaning. It should definitely be easier than the kitchen. Before your new tenant moves in, there is some housekeeping you should do, though.
Dust any and every surface you find in these rooms. From windowsills to ceiling fans to the baseboards along the perimeter, take a rag and wipe the dust right up.
This should be fairly easy if you rent the property unfurnished. If there is furniture, make sure to dust that too.
Grab some Windex and start wiping the fingerprints and smudges from all of the windows in the living areas and bedrooms. Make sure to clean both the interior and exterior sides of the window.
Not only will this make the rental look cleaner, but it could enhance the amount of natural light that enters these rooms. Natural light definitely makes your rental more attractive to potential tenants!
It’s also a good idea to disinfect and wipe down commonly touched surfaces such as door handles on the doors and closets, as well as light switches. This is important, especially during the current times of a global pandemic.
If your rental property has hardwood floors, it should be too hard to clean them. A quick run of the vacuum or broom can do the trick. However, if you have carpets, then we recommend steam cleaning them and lifting up any stains, especially if the previous tenants had pets.
The bathrooms are probably the second most time-consuming room to clean in your rental property. We all know what happens in there, plus it’s a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Take your time in here; it may need it.
Use bathroom cleaner to scrub down the shower and tub. Remove any water stains from glass walls or doors, and make sure to get in between tiles.
You’ll also want to clean out the drain of any hair. This may require some snaking or a simple pour of Drano if it’s clogged.
You’ll want to get some gloves for this one. Make sure to wash both the inside and outside of the toilet. It isn’t the most fun part of cleaning your rental before listing it, but it is definitely necessary.
Again, you’ll want to use bathroom cleaner to spray and wipe down the sink and any counters around it. Make sure to clean the drain out as well. You can use the same method you did in the kitchen or use Drano if necessary.
The bathroom mirror may have toothpaste stains or fingerprints from your previous tenant. Give that beauty a quick wipe down with some glass cleaner, and you’re good to go!
Give the bathroom floors a good scrubbing, just like you did in the kitchen. Ensure to get behind all of those nooks and crannies, especially behind the toilet and along the edge of the tub or shower.
What if we told you about an option where you never had to clean your rental property again before listing it? Just think of how much free time you would have rather than having to clean up after your tenant leaves.
Well, there is that option! When you work with TrueDoor Property Management to fully manage your rental Anaheim rental property, we’ll take care of everything. From acquiring tenants to scheduling repairs to maintaining the property during and between leases, we’ll take all the stress off your shoulders.
Contact us today and see how we can help you have a lot more free time while still enjoying the passive income from your Anaheim investment property!
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