Project pride of ownership by keeping your properties clean and tidy

Well maintained properties reflect pride of ownership and demonstrate professionalism to your tenants and neighbors. Furthermore, if your tenants see you going the extra mile to keep their community in good shape, they're much more likely to reciprocate. There are any number of things you can do during a routine visit to keep your properties looking nice, so why not take a few minutes to show your tenants you care?

​Here’s a simple routine to get you started:

• Check for trash or debris in the yard. If you see something, pick it up and throw it in the trash. 
• Straighten out picnic tables, umbrellas, and other patio furniture. Wind up uncoiled hoses and close gates that have been left open. 
• Check for cigarette butts, indoor furniture being used as outdoor furniture, and improper disposal of pet waste. If these are lease violations, follow up with your tenant.
• If you hire someone to do your landscaping, check their work. Also look for things that wouldn’t be covered in a routine maintenance visit, such as large branches hanging over the roof, leaning or unsteady trees, or anything else that could cause damage under severe weather conditions.
• If your building has a shared laundry facility, make sure the facility is tidy and the lint filters are clean. Check other common areas to ensure they are not being used for unauthorized storage. Sweep stairs and hallways, shake off mats, and generally keep common areas tidy. 
• Be on the lookout for unregistered vehicles that are routinely parked at the property. Also look for abandoned or broken down vehicles. Make sure sufficient parking is available and there are no issues with double parking or parking in unauthorized areas.
• Finally, check for unauthorized physical alterations to the property that affect its exterior appearance.  Examples include satellite dishes and sheets/blankets hanging in windows where curtains or blinds would be more appropriate. 

​As you can see, none of these are grueling or time consuming tasks. Moreover, as you get into the habit of running through the checklist, you’ll start to see fewer things that need to be fixed or tidied each time you visit the property. It’s a really simple way to improve your value as a property manager, increase tenant satisfaction, and preserve the value of your property. So, next time you’re at your property, ask yourself, “What can I do right now to make my property look nicer?”

---