How to Improve Your Tenants' Move-in Experience

When it comes to property management, there is plenty to be done on your end to make sure each tenant’s experience with the property is a great one – from start to finish. Don’t wait until your tenants move in to start shaping their renting experience – you can start as early on when you help out with their move-in experience. Keep reading for tips on how you can help improve your tenants’ move-in experience.

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Complete necessary paperwork prior to move-in

You are well aware of all the paperwork that can come from signing a new tenant to your rental property. Rather than leaving any paperwork to be done until the tenant’s move-in day, try to get as much completed and out of the way prior to their moving in. Move-in days can be stressful and depending on the circumstances, the timeframe of moving can be very tight.

Using some of that already tight timeframe to do paperwork that could’ve been completed in advance can cause unnecessary stress for all parties involved. On top of any leasing paperwork, encourage and remind your tenants to set up any utilities if they are responsible for setting and paying them up.

If there are things that you cannot complete beforehand, make sure your tenants are aware of things that need to be done on move-in day (or soon after), such as a move-in inspection. This way, you do not have to rush your tenants for something on a day they are already stressed and pressed for time.

Set up a smooth move-in day

Each rental property is different and proposes its own set of challenges for tenants moving in. This can range from flights of stairs to get up to a unit to winding pathways from the parking lot to the unit. Regardless of any challenges, help your tenants out by giving tips on navigating the property for their move-in day.

They may have a designated parking spot as part of their lease agreement, but it might not be the closest or easiest to get to for moving day. Remind your tenants of the property’s restrictions to prevent tickets, towing, and upset tenants. If it is possible, designate an unloading zone off a sidewalk or parking spot closer to the tenant’s unit to make move-in day more simple.

If there is an elevator that is typically limited to maintenance staff use, see if it is possible to allow tenants to use it for move-in days only. Point out where trash bins are located around the property so the tenant knows where to properly dispose of their move-in day waste.

Prepare a welcome package 

Everyone loves free stuff and your tenants will be no different. Preparing a welcome kit can help your tenants feel welcome and create a positive start to their leasing experience. The kit can be as elaborate as you want it to be, but anything can still go a long way.

The kit can include common household goods that they can use right away like toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, and other cleaning supplies. They likely already have such items, but might not have them unpacked right away and ready for use.

Additionally, you can also include some water bottles/beverages and snacks to fuel them during move-in day, or a gift card/voucher to a local restaurant to make their first meal in their new home an easy one.

Include a folder of useful paperwork with the welcome kit that gives them helpful information about the property. Leave contact information for your property management, maintenance staff, and/or security, a map of the property with available amenities, how to pay rent and submit maintenance requests, and a reminder of rental unit policies.

Be available

As much as you and your tenant can prepare for a move-in day, there’s a chance of something going wrong. Issues can pop up unexpectedly, such as a broken appliance or a leak, and may not be identified until the tenant moves in.

As a property manager, make sure either you or your staff are readily available to communicate with your tenants if anything pops up. Of course, any issue could dampen a tenant’s move-in day, but having you or staff ready to resolve the issues quickly can limit any disruption and inconvenience as they settle in.

Following their move-in day, reach out to them to see how it went to get any feedback to take into account for future move-in days. Ask them if there are any concerns about their unit or the general property, helping everyone identify any issues before they escalate.

Your tenant’s first experience with the property starts from move-in day, and as a property manager, you should take the chance to help shape it into a positive one from the start.