How to prep your Tacoma home for renting!

So you've bought your first rental house and aren't sure where to begin? Look no further! In this blog post we will break down what you need to do to prepare yourself to rent out your home. 

1. Read this previous blog post to familiarize yourself with the Tacoma Rental laws.

In it we’ve shared links to all of the websites you will need access to to make sure that you are prepared with the new Tacoma Landlord Code Initiative recently passed in the City of Tacoma. It will highlight things you should and shouldn’t do as a landlord, as well as timelines for these guidelines.

2. Research similar rentals to figure out a good price point.

If you aren’t sure what amount to list your rental for, the easiest way is to look at comparable properties is on Zillow. Use their search tool to look at rental units with similar beds and baths as your property. We recommend listing a little higher than you might think it’s worth! You can always lower the price in a few weeks if there isn’t any interest at your original price.

3. Use Avail for your rental applications, leases and rent payments.

Avail is a free online platform where you can create state specific rental leases.  You can run your applications all through Avail to do background/credit checks etc and your future tenant can setup automatic payments through them as well. All around, it is a great tool for simplifying the leasing process.

4. Handle all Cleaning & Repairs.

With the new rentals laws, you will need to make a full list of everything that's wrong with the house for both you and your tenant to sign. In order to make this list smaller, we recommend fixing up as much as you can before listing your house for rent. Patch up any holes in walls, fix any paint, and hire a professional cleaner so that it looks top-notch! 

5. Take professional photos of your rental.

I know this might be one that you think isn’t necessary, but trust us! Good pictures can go such a long way, in encouraging a potential renter to decide to check out your property, or just keep scrolling through the next one. You want your photos to be bright and welcoming, lined up well, etc. All things a professional photographer can dial in for you.