A rental home clean out might be in order if you've had to evict a tenant or if the lease wasn't renewed and the property is now unoccupied. Regardless of the reason, you'll want to whip it back into shape so you can advertise, show it, and rent it out again to keep the cash flowing month to month. But, before you are able to show it to potential renters, you've got to deal with all the junk, no matter what it is.
Rental Home Clean Out Quick Reference Guide
When rental tenants leave a property, it's not always a mutual decision. Some fall behind on their leases and rather than go through the eviction process, opt to leave. In some cases, tenants will leave behind different items. That's when it could be time to benefit from a furniture removal service. But, you must proceed with caution. While you are legally allowed to dispose of junk garbage, personal possessions, particularly those with value, are a different matter.
Whether a tenant moves out voluntarily or after an eviction, you may find yourself not only cleaning up and repairing damage, but also dealing with personal property left behind. Usually, this will just be trash that the tenant doesn’t want, such as old wine bottles, food, and newspapers. When it’s clear that you’re dealing with garbage, you’re free to dispose of it. Getting rid of belongings that have value -- such as a bicycle, a stereo, clothes, or furniture -- is another story. --Nolo.com
As the nearby quote explains, things like electronics, clothing, and furniture are different. This doesn't mean you can't take those items out of the rental property, it only means you can't outright throw them away. Instead, store them for as long as the local law states and add the expenses to the former tenant's financial obligations. But, if you're dealing with a messy situation and don't have to deal with such personal possession, use the following rental home clean out quick reference guide:
- Start with junk removal. Junk is no laughing matter and it's got to go as the first step in any rental home clean out. Have a local, professional junk removal service pay a visit and get the rental home clean out done in one fell swoop.
- Store any personal possessions. If the tenant did leave behind personal possessions, such as furniture, clothes, and/or electronics, you can simply store them somewhere else. It's not a good idea to store said personal possessions at the rental home site because the tenant might try to retrieve them without your knowledge.
- Deep clean and disinfect everything. With the junk gone and all the tenant's personal possessions taken out of the rental house and stored elsewhere, it's time to deep clean every room and disinfect every surface. The entire house should be fresh and clean.
- Change all the door locks. It's a good idea to change the door locks as soon as possible. After all, you really don't know how many duplicate keys were made and what's more, how many people have duplicate keys, and who has them. It's just an unnecessary risk, so change the locks.
- Make any repairs and test appliances. You might have to deal with rental home damage, which isn't a welcome chore, but it's completely necessary. Be sure to repair anything broken and test the appliance to ensure they work. If an appliance doesn't work, replace it.
When you need rental home clean out, because you don’t have time in your busy schedule, pick the phone and call 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services. We’re happy to help out and will get the job done for you, for a reasonable price.