| Why use a Rental Checklist when renting your | | | | or large complex, the exterior of the property |
| property? | | | | probably doesn't need to be included as the |
| It can be hard for landlords to collect all the | | | | property manager is almost always responsible |
| documents that they need to rent their place | | | | for maintenance and upkeep. |
| before listing and showing it for the first time. | | | | Major items to be covered include any surface |
| New landlords and property managers will find this | | | | that people touch (with hands, furniture, feet, etc.) |
| even harder, as they're not sure what to expect | | | | like walls, floors, ceilings, cabinetry, appliances, |
| before getting someone in the door. Though there | | | | sinks, or other 'high traffic' items. Other items are |
| are several important forms that need to be | | | | at the landlord's discretion and include siding or |
| used to rent the property (rental lease forms, | | | | brick, lawn or landscaping, trees, and other less |
| rental applications, etc) some of the less critical | | | | commonly covered areas. |
| (or legally required) forms still have a practical | | | | All forms should include a move-in and move-out |
| purpose in the process and should not be left out. | | | | checklist, date, and signature of both parties. |
| So what's a rental checklist anyway? | | | | Rental templates and forms - where to get |
| A 'rental checklist' is a pretty generic term, so | | | | started |
| there's really no exact answer to the question. | | | | It's probably easier to look for a good rental |
| For the purposes of this article, it refers to a | | | | checklist online or at a local library than it would be |
| document that the landlord (or property manager) | | | | to create one from scratch, but it depends on |
| and the tenant review before moving in and when | | | | the unit and the time you're willing to spend. A |
| moving out to look for damage, missing items, or | | | | quick Google search for 'rental checklist' or 'rental |
| other liabilities. These items could affect the | | | | checklist template' would be a good place to start. |
| amount that the tenant receives back from their | | | | If you're happy with a hardcopy or prefer not to |
| security deposit and should be carefully monitored | | | | use the computer, a local library would be a good |
| by both parties to ensure fair dissolution of the | | | | place to start. Additionally, some stores that carry |
| lease. | | | | business use documents may also have some |
| What should the rental form include? | | | | inexpensive forms. |
| Almost everything that constitutes the dwelling - | | | | Conclusion |
| inside and out - should be included in the checklist. | | | | With a little time and patience, it's not too hard to |
| The more specific and detailed the rental checklist | | | | find a good working document that can be reused |
| is, the more beneficial for both parties (though in | | | | for each tenant that leases your property. Ensure |
| general, it's more beneficial for the landlord as it | | | | that all items that you'd want your tenant to be |
| ensures that the tenant knows what they're | | | | responsible for are explicitly covered in the the |
| responsible for). If the unit is a multi-family home | | | | document. |