If you’re getting ready to rent out your home after you move, there are a few important steps to take to ensure everything goes smoothly. Address necessary repairs, deep clean the property, remove personal belongings, research the local rental market, check rental requirements, and set up a plan for managing the property. By taking these steps before you leave, you can make sure the home is in good condition for renters and avoid potential issues down the line.
Whether you’re renting out your current home in Boston, Massachusetts, or turning a property in New Orleans, Louisiana into a long-term investment, the focus should be on making the property safe, functional, clean, financially viable, and easy to maintain, rather than making every possible improvement.
Key Takeaways: Preparing your home for renters
Before you move out, make sure to:
- Assess the property’s condition: Identify safety concerns, needed repairs, and maintenance issues.
- Clean and clear the home: Deep clean the property and remove personal belongings.
- Research rental prices: Compare similar nearby rentals and consider vacancy and other expenses.
- Check rental requirements: Review local regulations and HOA or condo restrictions.
- Plan for management: Decide how you’ll handle rent collection, maintenance, tenant communication, and emergencies.
- Document the property: Photograph its condition before the first renter moves in.
Assess your home’s rental readiness
Before listing your property, take a walk through it from a renter’s perspective. Focus on safety, functionality, and maintenance issues rather than just cosmetic imperfections.
“Before listing the property, homeowners should look at it less like the home they lived in and more like a rental product entering the market,” says Ahmed Hashlamon, VP of Data at Mashvisor. “That means checking three things: condition, demand, and numbers.”
In addition to the physical condition of the home, consider whether there is demand for properties like yours and if the expected rental income aligns with your expenses.
“The home should be safe, clean, functional, and low-maintenance, but owners should also confirm whether the local market supports the rent they expect,” Hashlamon says. “A property may feel ‘ready’ physically, but if the projected rent does not cover expenses, vacancy risk, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and management, it may not be financially ready yet.”
Complete repairs and maintenance
Before listing the property, address any issues that could affect a renter’s safety or quality of life. Focus on repairs and maintenance that could cause problems for you or the renter after you’ve moved out, such as plumbing, electrical, major systems, appliances, flooring, locks, and exterior maintenance.
- Plumbing and electrical: Fix leaks, faulty wiring, outlets, and other safety issues.
- Major systems: Service or repair HVAC, water heater, and other essential equipment.
- Appliances: Ensure all included appliances are in working order.
- Flooring and locks: Repair damaged flooring and replace broken locks.
- Exterior maintenance: Address issues with roof, gutters, landscaping, and other exterior areas.
It’s also a good idea to take care of routine maintenance while you’re still living in the home. Servicing major systems and addressing small issues now can help prevent costly repairs later on.
Focus on improvements that enhance the property’s functionality, durability, and appeal to renters, rather than unnecessary upgrades.
Deep clean and remove personal belongings
After completing repairs, give the property a thorough cleaning before the first renter moves in. Pay attention to areas that may not receive regular cleaning, such as inside appliances, cabinets, baseboards, closets, windows, garages, and storage spaces.
Remove all personal belongings from the property, including items stored in the attic, garage, shed, or basement. If the home will be furnished, leave only the furniture and household items intended for the renter.
A clean, empty property makes it easier to document its condition before move-in. Take photos or videos of each room, including any existing damage, and keep these records with your rental documents.
Research the rental market before setting a price
Set your rental price based on the local market rather than just covering your mortgage. Research comparable rental properties with similar locations, bedroom counts, condition, amenities, and lease terms to determine your home’s value.
“The right rental price should be based on real comparable rentals, not what the owner hopes the property is worth,” Hashlamon says. “Look at similar nearby properties by bedroom count, condition, amenities, location, and lease type, then compare asking rents with actual market demand.”
Consider local rent trends, vacancy rates, neighborhood demand, and rental speed, especially for short-term rentals.
“Pricing too high can lead to longer vacancy, while pricing correctly from the beginning often protects total income better than waiting for the perfect tenant at an unrealistic rent,” Hashlamon says.
Before you move out, compare expected rental income with expenses like maintenance, insurance, taxes, management fees, and potential vacancy to get a realistic view of the property’s rental costs and earnings.
Check rental rules and restrictions
Research the rental rules that apply to your location and property type before listing it. You may need to meet safety, inspection, registration, licensing, or occupancy requirements depending on where you live.
If your property is part of an HOA or condo association, review their rental restrictions, such as rental limits or lease terms, that could impact your plans.
Taking care of these requirements before you move out can help avoid delays or surprises once you’ve found a renter.
Decide how you’ll manage the property
Before you leave, decide whether you’ll manage the property yourself or hire a property manager based on your location, availability, and level of involvement. Establish procedures for tenant screening, lease management, rent collection, maintenance requests, and emergencies if you choose to self-manage.
If you opt for a property manager, understand the services included and how maintenance and tenant communication will be handled.
“Homeowners should have clear systems in place before the first tenant ever moves in,” Hashlamon says. “That includes a reliable maintenance process, documented property condition, tenant screening, rent collection, lease management, emergency contacts, and a plan for handling turnovers.”
For short-term rentals, these systems may also cover cleaning coordination, guest communication, smart access, restocking, and review management. “The smoother the process is behind the scenes, the better the renter experience feels, and that can directly affect tenant satisfaction, occupancy, and long-term profitability,” Hashlamon says.
Complete a final walkthrough
Before you officially move out, do a final walkthrough of the property to ensure everything is ready for the first renter. Check that repairs are done, major systems and appliances are working, the home is clean, and all personal items are removed.
Make sure you have all the practical details sorted, like keys, tenant contact info, maintenance procedures, and emergency contacts.
Organize your photos, property records, lease docs, and other important info. With the property physically and financially prepared and a management plan in place, you can transition smoothly from homeowner to landlord with minimal loose ends.
FAQs about preparing your home for renters
How far in advance should I prepare my home before renting it out?
Ideally, start several weeks before moving out to allow time for repairs, cleaning, research, and management setup before the first tenant moves in.
Should I renovate my house before renting it out?
Not necessarily. Prioritize safety, functionality, durability, and repairs over cosmetic upgrades. Renovations should enhance the property’s appeal and rental potential without unnecessary costs.
What should I leave behind when renting out my house?
Leave only items intended for the rental, such as appliances, fixtures, or agreed-upon furnishings. Remove personal belongings and anything that could pose maintenance or liability issues.
How do I know if my home is financially ready to rent?
Compare expected rental income with expenses like mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, management costs, utilities, and potential vacancy to determine if the property is financially viable as a rental.