Many renters take flight during the holidays to see their families. If you’ll be leaving or renting your place out in the next few months, here are some guidelines to prepare your home for the holidays. From contacting the post office to preparing for guests, follow these tips to keep your home safe and sound while you’re away.
If You’re Leaving
If your apartment will be vacant during the holidays, you’ll need to ensure that everything is running smoothly when you’re gone. If you have a neighbor you can trust who will be in town, consider having them swing by just to make sure everything is okay. If that’s not an option, consider the following:
1. Have the post office put a hold on your mail. When you return, your mail will restart again, so you won’t miss anything. You can also ask your neighbor to get your mail for you. Either way, don’t let it pile up.
2. Clean. The last thing you want is to come home to an apartment that’s overrun by bugs. Clean out the fridge and throw out anything that might expire by the time you return. Vacuum, sweep, and mop. If nothing else, you’ll come home to a clean living space.
3. “Inform management that you will be away. They should always have a copy of the key but ensure that they do just in case,” says Kyle Lucas, the community manager at 2700 Charlotte Ave, an apartment community in Nashville, Tennessee.
4. “If you have anyone house sitting, ensure that a ‘Permission to Enter’ form is given to management—otherwise, they will be unable to give out a key,” says Lucas.
5. Lucas recommends leaving the temperature at 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.
6. “Close all blinds. This will help keep the energy bills low, as well as help with security,” says Lucas.
7. To save on electricity, consider unplugging anything that won’t be used when you’re gone—things like lights or even appliances.
If You’re Temporarily Renting It Out
If you’ll be out of town for a while, it might be worth it for you to list your apartment on Airbnb, Craigslist, or Vacation Rental by Owner to earn some extra money during the holidays. But before you list your place, check with your property manager.
“Renting out apartments to unauthorized tenants is prohibited under National Apartment Association lease agreements, which many major companies use. Because of this, there is a huge problem in the industry with people renting out their apartment on Airbnb. It might be a different case for house rentals however, I have never heard of any lease that permits short- term rentals in apartment buildings,” says Lucas.
If your property manager doesn’t have issues with this or if you’re letting a guest stay at your place for a few days, here are the guidelines that Samuel Wheeler, Communications Manager at San-Diego based real estate finance company SD Equity Partners recommends:
1. Set aside space in your apartment for the temporary guest. That way, your guests won’t have to go through your items to make room for theirs. Consider leaving out basic amenities like shampoo or towels. “It is a good idea to store everything that is personal in one area that is off limits to guests,” says Wheeler.
2. “Tell your neighbors you are renting so they are aware of new tenants and do not end up calling the police,” says Wheeler.
3. “Make sure you are protected by some sort of written agreement. Verbal subleases are a recipe for a costly squatting situation when you return. A written contract can come from a third party website like Airbnb, or through a standard written sublease agreement,” says Wheeler.
4. Test all of your appliances. Make a note if anything is broken or not working. Maybe even take pictures. If your guest causes damages, having photographic proof of that is important if you need the guest to shell out for items.
[tweetthis]Is your #apartment holiday ready? Whether staying or going, ensure you take care of these tips![/tweetthis]
Whether you’re staying home or leaving your apartment in the next few months, happy holidays! If you’re lucky enough to be visiting one of these cities, consider enjoying their happening holiday parties.