Raleigh Landlord: Lease Signing and Resident Move-In Time and Costs

Are you a Raleigh landlord? Let’s examine the process of moving new residents into your rental property. You should be in possession of a state compliant lease for your rental house.  Make certain that you have read and fully understand your lease, as well as all of your and your renter’s responsibilities with regard to the lease.  Your new residents will expect you to explain the lease, and significant terms and dates should be clear and concise. The lease signing period also gives you the chance to set “house rules” about aspects that are not specifically listed in the lease, such as city noise ordinance times, changing of filters/lightbulbs, maintenance responsibilities, and any special rules for the neighborhood or association.

After the lease signing, a move in evaluation should be done with your new resident noting the condition of the home, as well as any damaged items, and whether those will be fixed. If you have not done so yet, this is a good time to write down the make, model, serial number for appliances, as well as the size and number of filters and batteries needed, as you may need this information for future reference. Also ensure that your new residents know where the circuit breaker panel is located, water shut off, how to operate the lawn sprinklers, garage door openers, and other aspects. If done correctly, then the lease signing and move in process will likely consume about two hours of your time.

The final action in this process is to hand over a set of keys and all other openers to your rental home to your new residents. But, do not release the keys to your rental home to them until the lease has been signed, monies due are collected, and the walk-through evaluation is finished.  The exchange of keys signifies a change in residency, and once this exchange has been done, you no longer have the right to come and go from your rental house at any time. Rather, you need to provide your new residents the State mandated notice before entering your rental house. Confirm that your new residents can reach you if an emergency happens. Also, ensure that they know where and when to pay the monthly rent to you. Shake hands, smile, and welcome your new residents to the neighborhood.

Would you like to learn more about Raleigh property management? Please contact us on or give us a call at (919) 827-1107 to learn more!