Many landlords assume nobody moves in the winter. While the busiest leasing months in Michigan are usually spring and summer (see why summer is the best time to rent out your property), people still relocate for jobs, school schedules, family changes, and lease endings all year long. The owners who lease successfully in winter are the ones who plan for the season.
Here is how to give your rental the best chance from November through February.
Price with the season in mind
With fewer renters actively searching, an overpriced winter listing can sit for weeks. Base your price on current comparable rentals, and weigh a small adjustment against the cost of an extra month of vacancy. Our guides on how to set rental rates in Metro Detroit and common rental pricing mistakes can help.
Make it easy to show
- Complete a make-ready checklist before the first showing
- Keep walkways, steps, and the driveway shoveled and salted before every showing
- Keep the heat on at a comfortable level
- Turn on the lights; winter days are short
- Put down a mat and offer shoe covers for wet boots
- Offer evening and weekend showing times, and self-guided or virtual tours where possible
Update your photos
A listing with summer photos and green grass can look out of date in January. Make sure your photos show the home clearly, and add interior photos that highlight warmth and natural light.
Highlight winter-friendly features
Renters care about different things in winter. Call out features like:
- Attached or detached garage
- Newer furnace or windows
- Covered parking or entry
- Snow removal included, if it is
- Proximity to major roads that get plowed first
- In-unit or in-home laundry
Consider your lease length
A lease that starts in December and runs 12 months will end in December again. Many owners prefer to shift lease end dates into the busier spring and summer months. A lease term longer or shorter than 12 months can move your next vacancy into a stronger season. Discuss the right term with your property manager, and plan ahead with strategies to improve tenant retention.
Be ready to move quickly
Winter renters are often on a deadline. Respond to inquiries fast, have your screening criteria ready, and be prepared to approve qualified applicants promptly.
Protect a vacant home
If the home sits empty for part of the winter, keep the heat on, have someone check the property regularly, and confirm your insurance requirements for vacant homes. Our landlord's guide to winter rental maintenance and fall property management checklist cover the rest.
Let a professional team handle it
JMZ Management markets and leases homes and apartments year-round across Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. Our marketing includes professional photos and virtual tours, and our team responds quickly to every inquiry.
Have a rental coming available this winter? Request a free rental analysis at jmzmanagement.com/freerentalanalysis.
CONTACT US to learn more about professional property management in Michigan.
