Padsplit

PadSplit recommends printing and laminating 

to hang up in every home. These posters help reinforce the rules, promote cleanliness and protect your property. Please see our guide below for our recommendations on printing and location: 

Strangers / Don’t Allow Random People in House

Dining Room/Common Space/Hallway (all in areas as they would make sense - up to your discretion):

"Sensitive Pipes: Only Flush Toilet Paper" 

PadSplit Signage

PadSplits should be designed and furnished to feel like home. The furnishings should be comfortable and meet the needs of Members. Please keep in mind that Members are not permitted to bring large pieces of furniture. Furnishings should include: 

Built-in closet with closet rods or armoire (required)

How should I furnish the bedrooms?

PadSplit places a strong emphasis on convenience and efficiency for both Members and Hosts. It is important to keep in mind that Members are not permitted to visit the home before move-in. It is important to make the process of locating their room as smooth as possible. Here’s how Hosts can make that happen: 

 Organize the property with a proper floor plan. Having a clear, numbered floor plan makes it easier to list and organize. Many photographers can provide this service very inexpensively while taking photographs and several smartphone apps also do a decent job. When it comes time to list your property, having an accurate floor plan makes correctly assigning photos to rooms a much smoother process.

 Label rooms clearly with a color that contrasts with the color of the door. It is easy to overthink this step and introduce “themes” or alternative schemes such as using colors, or traits, to label rooms. However, numbers are much easier to grasp for both Members and Hosts.

 Rehearse your own “move-in”. Drive up to the property and think about where you’d think to park if it were your first time. Think about how you would enter the main door and find your room. Try the code or the key to access the room. Remove any kinks in the process and make it as convenient as possible for Members.

How should I label the rooms?

Unlike a traditional rental, utilities are included in the price paid by members. Hosts must ensure that the utilities are turned on and paid prior to listing the property. This process may take as long as 45 days in some municipalities. Details on how to complete these steps are provided below. 

A property’s power is often the simplest utility to turn on and can usually be done over the phone. It should also be the first utility to be turned on as any renovation work will most likely require the use of electricity.

Providing paperwork or meeting with a technician is rarely required for turning on the power. However, in certain municipalities, utilities are provided locally and bundled into one package. Turning the utilities on in cases like these may require a visit to the respective company’s office.

Estimated lead time required: 24 to 48 hours

Water is almost always provided by the local municipality. It must be turned on at the property before any paint work is done by contractors. You may need to obtain a settlement statement/deed, a signed lease or a signed letter of authorization from the owner. It may be required to have an adult on-site for a technician.

Estimated lead time required: 5 to 10 days

Natural gas is often provided by a public utility but may be marketed and sold through third-party companies in some locations, such as in Atlanta. If natural gas is required at the property, it should be optimized for price and service according to the options available on the market. Turning on natural gas usually requires meeting a technician on-site and must be completed in order to activate the HVAC system, hot water and stove-top cooking. We recommend locking in a long-term rate and setting annual renewal reminders to avoid seeing a spike in price later on.

WiFi installation must be completed prior to programming the exterior smart door lock if one is being used for the property. Most markets offer multiple WiFi providers such as Comcast and AT&T. Many also offer the option to rent modems and routers for convenience purchases. However, these rentals typically cost around $15 per month which can exceed the price of a purchased system fairly quickly.

The modem and router should be installed in a centrally located common area or as close to one as possible. WiFi extenders may be required in larger homes in order to improve internet access from all parts of the home. Cable service is not required, nor desired, in PadSplits. This can result in very high WiFI usage due to streaming services being used more often. Make sure that your plan does not charge excess fees for higher consumption.

Estimated lead time required: 10 to 20 days

Waste services are location-dependent. In some places, they are provided by the local municipality and paid for by local taxes. In others, these services are private and need to be sought out by you. You must ensure that there is an active waste service in place and provide adequate containers. While some municipalities provide receptacles, some mandate a specific type but do not provide them and some do not engage in either practice.

Estimated lead time required (if not municipally provided): 10 days

How should I prepare the home’s utilities?

It’s best to budget a few hundred dollars for staging items and finishing touches after renovation is complete as a few minor additions can go a long way. Hire a professional real estate photographer to make your photos really stand out. Many professionals offer 3D-tour packages that automatically generate floor plans and are a huge help for Members. Matterport is an example of this kind of service. These packages typically run around $200. Feel free to ask aPadSplit representative for recommendations if needed.

Stage the bedrooms with bed pillows and linens 

Include at least 2 photos per area (kitchen, bedroom, common area, laundry room). If a bedroom has a walk in closet and/or private bath, include a photo of it.

Showcase a room’s second exit point, whether that’s a window or door

What are best practices for listing photos?

Preparing some basic cleaning supplies and toilet paper makes those first move-ins much easier. You should also buy another trash bin if there are more than 6 rooms in the house.

What are some last minute additions?

We recommend conducting a stress test to check to see if your property is ready to be occupied by PadSplit Members: 

Run showers and sinks for 10 minutes to ensure water runs both cold and hot and all drainage works properly

Plug and fill tubs then let the tub drain. The tub should drain completely in less than 5 minutes

Flush the toilet 10 times to check for any back-ups

Check the handle of each toilet and plumbing fixture to ensure that it is installed tightly and does not move

Test to make sure that every outlet functions

Turn on all lights to check for flickering

Test every interior and exterior lock to make sure it functions

Open and close every door ensuring that each sits correctly in its frame 

Lean your full body-weight on all railings to ensure their stability

Turn on the oven for 10 minutes to check for smoke 

Test the dryer for 10 minutes to ensure functionality 

Run the air conditioning and heat for 10 minutes each, making sure that air filters are present in the system

Keep in mind that no system is completely foolproof. However, passing these tests reduces the risk of you facing costly maintenance bills after opening the property. 

How should I stress test the property?

Before listing your PadSplit, check to make sure that you have completed the following: 

Furnish the property and make it feel like home for your Members 

Make sure there are enough trash bins for both the interior and exterior 

Label all bedrooms clearly with a color that contrasts the color of the door.

Is my property ready to list?

Everything a Host needs to know -- from listing to operating a home -- to succeed with PadSplit.

The Finishing Touches Before Listing Your PadSplit