How to Refurbish an Apartment After Tenants Trash It
In an ideal world, an apartment that you rent out to tenants would look just as good when they left as it did the day they moved in. Unfortunately, this is almost never the case. Some tenants will move out of an apartment without bothering to clean or take care of minor repairs, leaving all of the work of refurbishing and renovating to the landlord. If you have tenants who have trashed your property, get ready to take on the task of refurbishing the apartment yourself (and, of course, hold on to their deposit). Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spackle
- Paint
- Replacement appliances and plumbing fixtures
- Replacement carpet and flooring
- Cleaning tools or cleaning service
Instructions
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1
Assess the apartment and decide what repairs you must take care of before the apartment will be ready for another renter. Make a list as you inspect the apartment to keep track of what needs to be refurbished. Note which issues count as "normal wear and tear" and which fall under "damages." The previous tenant is usually responsible for paying for damages to the apartment, but not for wear and tear.
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2
Pick up any trash or items that the previous tenants left behind, and get rid of it before you begin refurbishing so you don't have junk getting in your way. Check appliances and storage areas for items as well as main living areas.
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3
Spackle small holes you find in the walls and repaint any areas that the previous tenants have damaged. A fresh coat of paint can really improve the overall look of a room.
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Check appliances, plumbing fixtures, counters and cabinets. Are any badly damaged or simply outdated? If so, replace the ones that can't be or aren't worth getting repaired.
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Clean or replace floors as needed. Some stains may come out if a carpeted area is steamed or shampooed, but if the damage is too excessive, you should rip out the old carpet and install new flooring. Inspect tile and linoleum for holes and other issues, and clean or replace as needed.
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Clean everything thoroughly from floor to ceiling. This includes dirty flooring, walls, appliances, surfaces and windows. You may wish to have the property cleaned professionally to ensure that the job is done well and the rental is ready for new tenants to move in.
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