New Year Rental Goals: A 90-Day Plan to Elevate Property Performance

January is prime time to reset and level up your rental portfolio. Ottawa’s winter leasing market brings motivated movers, lease turnovers, and energy-saving opportunities—if you plan strategically. Phoenix Rising Property Management Inc helps owners set clear Q1 priorities for leasing, tenant relations, reporting, and maintenance so properties in Ottawa, Kanata, Orléans, Manotick, Kemptville, Perth, Arnprior, Brockville, and Smiths Falls start the year strong.

Start strong: Why Q1 goals matter in Ottawa’s rental market

Q1 sets the pace for vacancy days, renewal success, and maintenance spend. With fewer competing listings and hard-deadline movers (job transfers, school starts), well-positioned rentals can lease quickly. Winter is also the right time to tighten reporting, review service contracts, and plan capital improvements before spring. Measurable goals turn intentions into outcomes.

PAA: What are smart rental property goals for the new year?

Choose goals that are specific, data-driven, and time-bound. Examples: reduce days-on-market by 20%, increase renewal rate to 75%+, cut winter maintenance emergencies by 30%, and improve rating/review scores by one full star. Tie each goal to an action plan and track results monthly through a reporting dashboard. Phoenix Rising’s customizable plans (4% to 15%) align these goals with leasing, tenant screening, marketing, and transparent financial reporting.

Days 1–30: Stabilize operations and visibility

Set a clean operational baseline and improve listing appeal to capture January demand.

Audit listings: Update photos with bright winter shots, add video tours, and clarify snow/parking details.

Pricing review: Use local comps by micro-market (Kanata townhomes, Orléans apartments, Manotick rentals) and adjust weekly.

Tenant communication: Send a New Year notice with snow/ice reminders, emergency protocol, and portal tips.

Maintenance triage: Service HVAC, insulate pipes, and fix heat-loss points; confirm snow removal SLAs and salt bin placements.

Reporting cadence: Consolidate December financials, align categories to CRA, and set KPI dashboards for 2025 tracking.

Days 31–60: Optimize leasing, renewals, and tenant relations

Turn momentum into occupancy and retention while reducing winter downtime.

Renewal offers: Propose early-renewal incentives where vacancy risk is high; test 12–16 month terms to bridge seasonality.

Tenant selection: Tighten screening (employment, references, credit), communicate timelines, and use digital applications to speed decisions.

Marketing mix: Syndicate listings, refresh copy midweek, and geo-target ads to Ottawa and surrounding communities.

Service quality: Track response times and first-contact resolution; share quick safety tips on space heaters and extension cords.

Community etiquette: Set clear guest/parking expectations during winter; protect common areas from salt and slush.

Days 61–90: Scale performance with data and upgrades

Use insights to plan improvements that protect margins for the rest of the year.

KPI review: Analyze days-on-market, inquiry-to-lease conversion, arrears, and maintenance tickets by building.

Budget alignment: Prioritize upgrades with ROI—LED lighting, low-flow fixtures, smart thermostats, and draft-proofing.

Vendor strategy: Compare contractor performance, renegotiate rates before spring, and verify insurance certificates.

Portfolio planning: With our real estate partners, consider buy/hold/sell decisions supported by market rent data and expense trends.

Reputation building: Collect fresh reviews and testimonials to boost online trust for upcoming spring listings.

Local insights across Ottawa and nearby communities

Different areas face different winter realities. Kanata and Orléans families value transit access, garage parking, and snow-plowed routes. Manotick and Kemptville rentals may need quicker plow dispatch and clear well-water or septic guidance. Older housing in Perth and Smiths Falls benefits from insulation checks and thermostat education. Brockville and Arnprior can see stronger winds—secure balcony items and clarify décor rules. Phoenix Rising tailors plans to each micro-market so improvements are practical and cost-effective.

Turn goals into measurable gains

A 90-day plan works when it’s visible. Phoenix Rising’s reporting provides monthly statements, tenant and maintenance logs, and exportable summaries your accountant will appreciate. We connect actions to outcomes—showing how marketing changes reduce vacancy, how proactive maintenance lowers emergencies, and how tenant relations drive renewals.

Start your 90-day rental success plan today

Make this your strongest start yet. Phoenix Rising Property Management Inc will build and execute a New Year 90-Day Plan tailored to your property type and neighbourhood—from leasing strategy and fast screening to tenant communications and transparent reporting. Choose a customizable management plan (4% to 15%) that fits your goals and budget. Contact us to schedule your Q1 Performance Blueprint and keep your Ottawa-area rentals profitable, compliant, and tenant-approved. Visit www.prpminc.ca to get started.