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How to Prepare Your Hawaii Home to Rent

November 23, 2021

How to Prepare Your Hawaii Home for Renters

So, you’ve decided to rent out your Hawaii home—before you place that ad or hang that “For Rent” sign, you’ll want to make sure that your property is ready to welcome your new tenants. Ensuring that the home is clean and move-in-ready will go a long way toward getting off on the right foot with your new tenants and avoiding potential future conflicts. Remember, first impressions really do matter!


The property managers at Locations recommend that landlords take the following steps before placing their home on Hawaii’s rental market.


Assess the property

Before you rent out your home, you’ll want to assess the property to see if any repairs are needed. This is also a great time to consider upgrades to the home, such as new flooring, paint, appliances, window treatments or light fixtures. Taking some time to make your Hawaii rental home more appealing before you list it can help you to attract more potential tenants and net a higher monthly rental income. If you’re not sure which upgrades will get you the most bang for your buck, as your Locations property manager.


Remove all personal items

Unless you plan to include furnishings with your rental property, you should remove all personal items from the home before your tenants move in. All that should remain in the rental home are large appliances, working smoke detectors, mounted light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and window coverings (if you chose to provide them).


Turn on utilities

If the utilities have been turned off, you’ll want to arrange for them to be turned on. You’ll need working electricity and water to do a deep cleaning and make any necessary repairs. You’ll also want to have working lights and running water for showings.


Make it sparkle

No one wants to move into a dirty home. Before you list your property, you’ll want to do a thorough cleaning. This includes cleaning appliances (inside and out), steam cleaning carpets and mopping hard floors, dusting vents, molding and baseboards, and scrubbing showers, tubs, sinks and toilets.


Cleaning your home for new tenants can be a big undertaking—if you’re not able to do the cleaning yourself, or if you just don’t care to, your Locations property manager can arrange for a professional cleaner to prepare the home.


Download our cleaning checklist


Check appliances

Be sure all appliances are clean and in good working order. If your rental home has a dryer, be sure to check the vent and lint trap—a clogged dryer can be a fire hazard. Run a load of towels through the washing machine to make sure there are no leaks and that the water drains properly.


In the kitchen, you’ll want to make sure that the refrigerator and freezer run at the appropriate temperatures, and that the refrigerator coils are clean. To check the stove and oven, test all burners and check the oven temperature with an oven thermometer.


Check that hot water comes out of every faucet and that all outlets work (outlet testers are inexpensive and handy). If your property has air conditioning, make sure filters are clean and that cool air comes from all vents or units. Be sure to test all smoke detectors, too!


If you’re not sure how to test your appliances, ask a professional property manager at Locations.


Pro tip: Keep all appliance manuals together where tenants can easily access.


Change the locks

Before a new tenant moves in, you’ll want to call a locksmith to change out all the locks. Make sure that all keys, as well as building fobs or garage door openers, if applicable, are operational.


Verify parking, storage

If the rental property is a condo or townhouse, you’ll want to verify which parking spaces and storage areas your tenants may use.


Provide documents

Make sure your tenants have a copy of building or homeowners’ association (HOA) documents, if applicable. If your tenants violate a building or HOA rule, you could be held responsible.


Leave it to the pros

Because there are several steps to preparing your Hawaii home for renters, do yourself a favor and hire an experienced property manager at Locations. Our expert property managers can help to ensure that your rental property is clean, safe and ready for renters. Hiring a qualified Hawaii property manager can help to put more cash in your pockets each month and keep your tenants happy. It’s a win-win!


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Do you need a property Manager?

Do I Need a Property Manager for my Hawaii Rental Property?

By Locations Rental Staff • June 2, 2021
There are several benefits to hiring a professional property manager to oversee your rental property. A property manager acts as a buffer between the property owner and tenants—taking the headache out of owning and operating a rental property.  Furthermore, if you do not live in Hawaii, you will need to retain a property manager, since Hawaii law requires landlords who do not reside in Hawaii (or who reside on a different island than their rental property) to hire a property manager on the same island as the property. What does a Property Manager do? A property manager can help to find qualified tenants, collect rent payments, ensure that the property is well-maintained, and handle maintenance requests and other tenant issues. Property managers can also help to oversee evictions and other legal processes. Assess the property A property manager will visit the property to determine if any repairs or upgrades are needed before you can list the property for rent. Your property manager will also help you to determine market rent for your property, so that you can maximize your profit. Get a free rent analysis Market the property A property manager will also take photos of your property and advertise it where the most potential renters will see it. When you list your rental property with Locations, we’ll ensure that it’s advertised on our website and Oahu’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS), as well as various property rental websites, like Rentals.com and apartments.com, rental publications and our own network of real estate agents. The result: Minimal vacancy time and the maximum rental income that the market will allow. Screen prospective tenants A property manager will process rental applications to identify qualified tenants for your property. This includes running credit checks, national background checks and verifying prospective tenants’ income. By properly screening prospective tenants, a property manager can help you to avoid many potential issues down the road, like tenants who have a history of failing to pay rent or have left previous rental properties in poor condition. Manage paperwork and collect rent A property manager will ensure that the rental agreement is signed by both parties, and that the tenants understand and agree to adhere to all the terms of the contract. A property manager will also ensure that your tenants pay their rent in a timely manner, so that it can be distributed to you on a reliable schedule each month. If a tenant fails to pay their rent on time, a property manager is able to enforce rent collection, including collecting late fees and, if necessary, initiate the eviction process. Handle maintenance requests When tenants encounter a maintenance issue, such as a broken refrigerator or a leaky faucet, a property manager will coordinate repairs, including letting maintenance personnel into the property and determining which party is responsible for repair or replacement costs. A property manager will also conduct routine periodic property inspections to ensure that your property is maintained properly. Deal with legal issues Property managers are well-versed in landlord-tenant laws, so if issues arise with your tenants, they are able to resolve them in a manner that can help you, the landlord, to avoid a costly lawsuit. Some of the legal issues that property managers handle include lease negotiations and terminations, rent collection and evictions. Property managers will also ensure that your rental complies with property codes and safety laws, such as disclosing lead-based paint and making sure there is a working smoke detector in the home. How much does it cost to hire a property manager? Property management fees vary, but the industry standard is 10 percent of the property’s gross annual rent. This fee structure incentivizes property managers to find (and keep!) qualified tenants. To learn how Locations Property Management can help you to manage your rental property, please contact us at (808) 738-3100.
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