Out-of-State Investor Closing on First Property Soon – Rent-Ready Tips?

[Rebecca Cho]

Hi everyone,

I’m closing on my first rental soon and could really use some tips & advice!

It’s a single family in a B+/A neighborhood in Central NY, about 4 hours from me in NJ.

1. Best smart lock for rentals?

Thinking about installing a smart lock with a keypad so I don’t have to rekey every time I turn over, can give contractors easy access, and use it for remote showings if needed.

Thoughts on this? Any favorites you would recommend for rentals?

2. Tips for handling small renovations remotely?

Just light reno needed on this property - mostly handyman work, paint touchups, and deep cleaning.

If I set up Wi-Fi, a smart lock, a Ring doorbell and indoor cameras, can this realistically be managed remotely?

How do you handle contractor access and make sure work actually gets done?

3. Rent-ready timeline?

Trying to figure out the right sequence for minor repairs, paint touchups, pest control, deep cleaning, and anything else I might be missing.

What’s the best order to tackle these before listing a rental? Would love to hear your tips, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Thank you so much in advance!

Best,

Rebecca