Routine maintenance and inspections should include every area of your rental property. It's easy to remember to inspect floors, walls, appliances, and bathrooms between tenants or as part of your regular maintenance schedule. One of the questions many landlords seem to forget asking themselves is: "How are the basement, attic, and fireplace?"

We want to believe that every tenant who makes it through your screening process is going to be a model tenant. They'll take good care of the property, they'll follow the rules of the lease, and they'll pay the rent on time. 

Even with the best screening in place, tenants sometimes try to bend the rules or delay the rent payment. Different tenant issues require different responses from landlords—and sometimes it's hard to know what to do to protect your property and follow the law. If you're a new landlord, it's easy to get frustrated or feel helpless.

It's exciting to approve a new tenant! You've gone through the screening process, and your new tenant appears to be trustworthy and a good fit for your Metro Detroit property. 

Before your new tenant can move in, your property needs to go through the make-ready process. If you're an "accidental" landlord, you might be asking a critical question at this point: what is the make-ready process? It's a crucial step that makes your property fresh and clean for a new tenant. 

From floor to ceiling—inside and out—your rental property needs attention before every new tenant. Here's what you need to know about the make-ready process.