Ideas to make them in good mood during move in? Not clean unit, other stuff. I have learned once a tenant finds a few things wrong there mood changes and they find every little detail and go off.

Tips for getting them in the right mindset - like flowers, move in letter, gift basket, ANYTHING to get started right!

What do you mean they will "go off"... as in "refuse to rent"? I've got a Holding Fee by the time we meet to sign the lease, so if they back out they forfeit that money. The time for them to nitpick the place apart is BEFORE we meet to sign the lease. I remind folks: this is a 30-70 year old property: it's not brand new construction. If you want perfection, ABC Townhomes is down the road for $300 more per month.

I had a super nit-picky 'couple' once whom I allowed to do the move-in inspection on their own after lease signing and I picked it up 3 days later. NEVER AGAIN. They gave me 3 pages, front and back, handwritten, listing every piece of torn fiber in the carpet and every pin-sized dent in the wall...for a place built in 1972! Later at move-out they tried to refuse to pay the carpet cleaning fee which was in the lease because, "the carpet was so worn out it wasn't worth cleaning." That carpet is still there and very serviceable today....4 years later.

box of donuts on the counter with WELCOME.

Pensey SPices makes a very nice boxed spice set that I've been giving at move in, includes a kitchen towel that reads "love people, cook good food" and regular spices,,, check out their website.

This is why my lease reads: I/We have inspected the unit and find it in satisfactory condition. I/We agree to rent the unit in as-is condition.

Will this hold up in court if there are roof leaks and smashed windows? Absolutely not and that isn't my intention.

It is simply to stop, dead in its tracks, the initial knit-picking and complaining.

I get very little of that.

Typically it is something small that they would like added to the move-in inspection report so it's noted for when they move out.

When I sell a house, I sometimes set up a bathroom ready for use, shower curtain, a couple of new towels (inexpensive at TJMaxx), soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, a couple of disposable razors etc.

When you are moving it is exhausting.

It costs me less than $40, and I think it is a nice welcome.

Don, At Convention 2016 the first speaker taught us that our new residents decide if they will renew AT MOVE IN - so make the move in experience GREAT!

I have a 200 point inspection for turnover. I want EVERYTING done and looking great. LLs (esp men) usually have a "good enough" mindset but that is not "good enough" for today's market.

I've also learned that PERFECT gets better applicants, longer residents, and fewer call backs. Many of our homes are 100+ years old but every crack is caulked, walls freshly painted, SCRUBBED clean, updated appliances/lights/hardware and smell great. We install a shower curtain (so they will use it!),

It only takes a little extra time to turn OK into GREAT. I feel we are reimbursed with faster turnover (less lost rent) and better people (again, less lost rent).

Every LL should take a few minutes to tour local apts and builder open houses to raise their awareness. THIS plus what they see on HGTV is what prospects expect, even in low end rentals.

Don't kid yourself thinking low end applicants want so-so homes. The clean one will rent first.

I don't mind the picky ones because there should be littel to pick. I WORRY about the ones who accept cracked windows, carpet stains, old appliances...THESE people will give me trouble later.

Our Welcome Bag (basic gift bag with handles) is given during lease signing at the home and focuses on their move in: microwave popcorn, M&Ms (to keep the kids quiet while we sign!), pizza coupon, laundromat coupon, bag of 12 tiny nails for pictures, Lowes coupon, USPS change of address form, truck rental coupons...

We also make a follow up call on their anticipated moving day to head off any problems and "be available".

BRAD

A move in basket goes a long way.

$1 shower curtain, roll of kitchen paper towels and bottle of floor cleaner for the new floor I just installed.

I supply all baths with a new roll of TP and a starter supply of the proper dishwasher soaps with instructions. We have hard water and the cheap COSTCO soap will leave ugly dishes and glasses.

I do the shower curtain, toilet paper, a roll of paper towels in the paper towel holder, and about a dozen assorted beverages chilled in the fridge (water, tea, or whatever the current trendy beverage is). I also leave a brief post-it on the counter welcoming them and wishing them luck with the move-in.

Never attempt to rent a property that is not ready.

You may have debt service, but if you sacrifice when you're showing your property you may just miss the very best occupants.

Save yourself a lot of time, prepare your property correctly a lot of the ideas that are listed are very good. Compare your unit??

How does it look in comparison to other properties?

And lastly consider a YouTube video.

The video can be used if in fact you have a taped.

I have videos of my properties, when they are vacant. And even if the property is coming available without mentioning the address. I am able to show an extravagant superclean property to allow other people who are quality or high quality tenants, to know the approximate location and price of the upcoming property..

The same thing can be done with pictures, I am a landlord it does not disclose the address whenever my unit is occupied by my tenants.{I simply want to forgo liability}

Thinking ahead advertising ahead and having your video and pictures will enable you to advertise in advance.

I currently have a property that the yard folks are working on right now to make sure that it's the best looking house on the block.

After the weekend it will be to my standards when the interior is fully completed.

The key thing to remember is to give everyone respect and also, as Mr. landlord has quoted for years, stay in control !!

To your success !!

Toilet paper always and we give a basket (I get very reasonable from Good Will) with spaghetti and can of sauce. If in winter, hot chocolate & apple cider packets. In the basket I have a Welcome to... sheet with our names on it. Never once did we get a thank you but I feel good about it. Tastily Simple products at time too. Great idea on shower curtain and popcorn.

Shower curtain because if they forget one and take a shower anyway (they will) it's your floor that gets wet.

Toilet paper because if they forget, they will use paper towels or whatever and clog the pipes.