When your tenant has given a 30-day notice, you’ll need to be prepared for both the vacancy and the turnover process. This can be expensive, and during a vacancy you aren’t earning any rental income. We understand the urgency of completing a turnover in an efficient and timely manner. This does require some of your involvement as a property owner.
Evaluating your Vacant Rental Property
If we have previously marketed and placed a tenant in your unit, we will evaluate the condition of the Grand Rapids rental property before we begin marketing. Our goal is to market all properties prior to the existing tenant moving out. However, there are circumstances that would prohibit this such as the tenant’s unwillingness to clean or accommodate showings. If the property is in bad condition or has a recent report of bed bugs, roaches, or fleas, we will wait to begin marketing after it has been cleaned.
Once the tenant vacates, our rent-ready team will respond to the property within 24 hours to change the locks and to develop a list of damages for which the previous tenant should be billed. At the same time, we will prepare a rent-ready inspection report. You’ll be required to review and approve this report. This is an exhaustive inspection that includes pest monitors, plumbing fixtures, electrical functions, and a review of appliances, checking smoke alarms, outlets, and light bulbs.
We also provide quotes on suggested or required upgrades that could include carpet replacement, floor refinishing, painting, etc. The time it takes to complete this inspection will depend on the quality and the condition of your unit.
Managing Security Deposit Returns
Our team will handle the disposition of the security deposit with the tenant who has moved out. The security deposit laws are extensive, and we have experience in not only settling disputes outside of court but also inside of a court hearing. This is not a process I would recommend getting involved in. Courts are very tenant-friendly when it comes to security deposit disputes, and you’ll want an expert arguing your case.
Owner Approval and Communication
After you receive the inspection report, we will wait for your approval before moving forward on any repairs or upgrades. If we already have a tenant ready to move in, we are under a deadline and the work becomes more critical. If we have pre-leased your property, we will do the minimal repairs necessary to turn your property over as the tenant has already seen it and approved.
It’s also helpful for you to give us advance notice when you know of any larger projects or quotes that you may want during a vacancy. For instance, if you want your windows replaced, let us know so we can start gathering those quotes. The best time to complete repairs is during the vacancy. This will help the property rent and sometimes even increase the rental price.
Our goal with each property is to limit the vacancy to the best of our ability. This is always subject to the owner’s approval and ability to pay. If you’re an owner who likes to handle turnovers without our help, we have another blog and video that might interest you. You should know, however, that rarely do the savings of doing your own turnover translate into higher ROI. It takes longer, and there are almost always unanticipated problems. On average, each day a unit is vacant results in $30 of lost income. This adds up quickly and shows the importance of this process.
Once the property is ready to be rented again, our coordinator will hire a professional photographer to photograph the property, assuming it hasn’t been previously marketed. It will take about 24 hours to edit the pictures before they are online. Once the photographs are complete, the listing will be made live and our leasing team takes over.
If you have any additional questions about the turnover process, please feel free to contact us at United Properties of West Michigan.
Sergio joined United Properties in 2020. He is a graduate from Pickens Technical College as a Nurse Assistant and as a Small Animal Care Provider in 2010. In the past nine years, Sergio has had various jobs, all focused around customer service.
Eden joined United Properties in 2016. Eden graduated from Davenport University in 2015 with an Associate’s in Business Administration. She’s the Executive Assistant to the Owner of United Properties, with a focus on procedural documentation. She enjoys playing guitar, reading, and doing outdoor activities. Eden is trilingual and able to communicate in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. 
David joined the United Properties team in 2019 as the Director of Client Relations and Business Development. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading all leasing, application underwriting, tenant relations, accounts receivable, process improvement, remote workers, and general office functionality (essentially anything outside of maintenance and service). David comes from a longstanding career at a Fortune 15 company primarily in a sales and customer service leadership role.
Matthew joined the United Properties in early 2020. He is a graduate of Lee University with a bachelor’s in Intercultural Studies and also a master’s in Discipleship and Christian Formation. Matthew serves as a project manager over the Rent Ready process. He has 20 years of construction experience and over 10 years of experience in leadership positions. He oversees a team of technicians and schedules outside vendors getting properties back to the United rent-ready standard so that they can be leased again.
Carla joined United Properties in late 2019 as a billing specialist. Carla ensures invoices are received from contractors and bills them out in a timely fashion.
Cristina joined United Properties as the Accounting and Billing Team Lead in October of 2020. She has experience as a technology professional, an English-Spanish translator, and has worked the past several years as the treasurer of her condominium.
Rick joined United Properties in 2020 as a Service Coordinator and then later transitioned to the Collections team, where his customer service shines. Rick has an extensive background in customer service and enjoys being able to resolve issues. He and his wife are raising their two kids and in his free time, Rick enjoys making his own homemade jerky.
Harriet joined United Properties as a Accounting & Billing Specialist in February of 2021. She has experience as a bookkeeper and a Property Manager for a Real Estate account. She was a working student during her college days. Harriet loves cleaning because she thinks it is therapeutic. She also loves watching series during her free time, and she’s a fur mom of one dog. Her inspiration to work every day is her family.
Diego has an extensive background in customer service and, most recently in Maintenance and
Paulina joined United in early 2021 as a Leasing Assistant. She has a background studying social work, with several years of experience in customer service. She speaks English and Spanish fluently and loves to learn. Paulina enjoys small road trips and cold, rainy weather. Her dog is her favorite thing in the world.
Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial strategies and public accounting and is studying a masters in Blockchain and Fintech regulation. She has previous experience as a customer service representative. She speaks English and Spanish. She loves taking long walks with her three dogs, hiking and road tripping during the weekends.
Chris Good is new to the United Properties Team since June 2022 as a Business Development Manager. With years of experience in both the construction industry (Master Electrician) and the Real Estate industry (Broker), he will closely work with new and experienced investors to facilitate their real estate goals.
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