Alright, so today I wanted to talk about my time as a make ready technician. It’s one of those jobs where folks on the outside think they know what it’s all about. You know, a bit of cleaning, maybe slap some paint on the walls, and boom, it’s ready. Let me tell you, it’s a whole lot more than that. I learned that pretty quick when I first got into it. Wasn’t exactly what I planned, but it taught me a ton about getting things done, and getting them done right.
What Really Goes Into Making a Place ‘Ready’
I remember this one particular apartment, it was my first solo assignment after a bit of shadowing. The previous tenants, well, let’s just say they weren’t too kind to the place. The property manager just handed me a long list and said, ‘Needs to be rent-ready by the end of the week.’ My heart sank a little looking at the state of it, but hey, a job’s a job.
So, the very first thing I did was a thorough walk-through. I didn’t touch anything yet, just looked. I made notes on my pad for every room, comparing it against the manager’s list and adding my own observations. It’s super important to assess everything before you start, so you can plan your attack. The list usually looked something like this for a rough unit:
- Cleaning: Deep clean kitchen appliances, bathrooms, floors, windows. Sometimes, oh boy, the fridge alone could take an hour.
- Repairs: Fix leaky faucets, running toilets, broken blinds, damaged door knobs, holes in drywall.
- Painting: Full paint or touch-ups. Walls, ceilings, trim. This is a big one.
- Fixtures: Check and replace light bulbs, sometimes entire light fixtures or ceiling fans.
- Flooring: Carpet cleaning, or if it’s too far gone, reporting it for replacement. Sometimes minor vinyl floor repairs.
- Appliances: Make sure the stove, oven, dishwasher, fridge are all working properly.
Once I had my plan, I gathered all my tools and supplies. You end up with quite the collection – cleaning stuff, paint, brushes, rollers, spackle, caulk, screwdrivers, wrenches, a stud finder, you name it. I usually started with the dirtiest jobs first – usually the kitchen and bathrooms. Lots of scrubbing, degreasing, and sometimes holding your breath. I’d pull out appliances to clean behind them. People forget that part.
Then, I’d move on to repairs. Patching drywall was a common one. You gotta cut it clean, put in some backing if it’s a big hole, then apply joint compound in thin layers. Sanding in between. It takes patience; you can’t rush good drywall work. I fixed leaky sinks, replaced old showerheads, and re-caulked tubs and countertops. It’s amazing how much better fresh caulk makes a bathroom look.
Painting was usually next. Prepping is key here. Taping off edges, covering floors. Then cutting in around the trim and ceilings before rolling the main walls. A fresh coat of paint really transforms a place. It’s probably the most satisfying part for me. You see a huge difference quickly.
After painting, I’d install any new fixtures, put up blinds, make sure all the outlet covers were clean and not cracked. Then a final clean-up – vacuuming, mopping, wiping down every surface. You want it to smell clean when the new tenant walks in.
The last step was always a final walk-through, me pretending I was the new tenant. Opening every door, checking every tap, flipping every switch. Making sure I hadn’t missed anything. It’s hard work, long days sometimes, especially when you’re up against a deadline. But seeing a trashed unit transformed into a clean, welcoming space for someone new to call home? There’s a real satisfaction in that. You really did ‘make it ready’.
