Marketing a rental property presents some special
challenges. Most owners want to offer the house for sale while tenants are still
living there so that the property continues to bring in income. Most Realtors
prefer that their listings either be occupied by the owner or empty.
Tenant-occupied homes are often the most difficult to sell since the tenants may
not share the same pride of ownership. They may be very messy and, as a result,
the house is not shown to its best advantage.
When you put a tenant-occupied house on the market, it is important that
you enlist the tenants in the effort to get your house sold. Talk to the tenants
first to see if they have a desire and ability to buy the house. If they are not
interested in buying, work out with them the ground rules for access to the
house. In most cases, the new owners will want the tenants to move, and it will
be important to work out alternate living arrangements with them, if necessary.
In each situation, work hard to create a spirit of cooperation with the tenants.
