If you are going to be spending some time away from your usual place you may need to find someone to take over for you, that way you aren’t spending money when you don’t have to. It might not be easy to set aside current distractions, but it will be necessary in order to help you accomplish this task! Where do you even start when it comes to filling your space? Well, we have a few ideas for you to get the ball rolling!
1. Ask your friends and family first
See if your friends and family know of anyone looking for a place, that way you can go with someone you know and trust. It will save you a lot of repairs if it is someone who you can track down and keep them responsible for things, if they damage your property. Plus, if it is a reference from someone you are familiar with, you will most likely want to help them first. Know which of your friends to ask, though. Don’t ask your flakey friend or the one who doesn’t take care of their own space. That might mean their friends are similar too.
2. Take your valuables with you
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it is worth mentioning. We aren’t just talking items of high monetary value; we are talking sentimental value as well. Don’t leave something in your space that you would be upset about losing, getting broken, or never seeing again. Though the person you choose to sublet may be trustworthy, if they have a friend over one day or the place gets broken into on their watch, you want to make sure you have taken proper care of your belongings. If you must leave items within your place, get yourself a Honeywell safe box to lock away your valuables, and hide it in the space as best as possible.
3. Screen possible tenants
If you are unable to have someone you know move in, let SmartMove tenant screening services screen potential subtenants. You will be able to get a better grasp on who really will be in the space. You will be able to see an eviction history, a renter’s credit report, get income insights to be sure they are able to pay on time, and so much more. SmartMove is a great resource to see if the person is a good fit for your spot.
4. Take pictures of everything before leaving
It is a good idea to take pictures before you leave, that way you know the state it was in before you were gone. This is help for any sort of damage rebuttals or security deposit scenarios. Take the pictures and get them printed! Don’t leave them digital for too long, because you don’t want to lose them. It will be a good idea too to house them in an album, that way you can have them to easily reference when the time comes. If you end up subletting to multiple people, you will have each set as reference to check back on and keep a timeline with.
5. Be ready to act as a landlord
It is time to put your landlord pants on and wear them proudly. You have to remember that subletting doesn’t just reflect them, but it reflects you and you have to protect yourself from potential problems. You will need to make sure you list out your expectations, just like your landlord did for you. This will ensure that you are on the same page before they take over.
6. Have a plan
Plan for utilities and other costs that will accrue when they move in. How will they be paid, will it be split with others, etc. You want to make sure you have all of this figured out before you are gone, that way the new tenant is well aware of what is expected of them when it comes to paying you or paying bills directly. Without a plan, you open yourself up for potential problems!
Don’t be afraid to have high standards and stick to them! It will help you to find the right person and you will be glad you did!
