Landlord and Property Manager Storage: What to Keep Between Tenants

If you manage rental properties in southeast South Dakota — whether it’s one duplex in Tyndall or a handful of units in Springfield and Freeman — you know the between-tenant scramble. Cleaning supplies, spare appliances, leftover furniture, maintenance tools, and all the stuff that doesn’t have a home between leases. Here’s how a storage unit keeps your rental business organized.

The Between-Tenant Problem

Tenant moves out. You’ve got 2-4 weeks to turn the unit. During that window, you’re dealing with:

• Left-behind items the tenant abandoned (South Dakota law gives you a process for this — more below)
• Spare appliances — that backup fridge or window AC unit
• Cleaning and maintenance supplies — paint, tools, hardware, cleaning products
• Seasonal items — snow removal equipment, lawn care gear, window screens/storm windows
• Model unit furniture — if you stage units for showings
• Records and documents — lease files, maintenance records, inspection reports

If you manage one property, this stuff lives in your garage. If you manage several, your garage became a warehouse two properties ago.

What Landlords Store

Maintenance and Repair Supplies

• Paint — keep extra gallons of your standard wall color and trim color. When you’re doing a turnover, having paint ready saves a trip to the hardware store. Store paint in a climate-controlled unit — paint freezes in South Dakota winters and becomes useless.
• Hardware — door handles, cabinet hinges, outlet covers, light switch plates, faucet parts. Buy in bulk and store.
• Tools — the full maintenance kit: drill, saws, plumbing tools, drywall repair supplies, painting equipment.
• Flooring — extra boxes of laminate, vinyl, or tile that match your units. When a tenant damages a section, having matching material saves a full replacement.

Appliances

Landlords in this area often keep spare appliances: - A working refrigerator in case one dies mid-lease - Window AC units (not all rentals in small-town SD have central air) - Space heaters for emergency situations - Washers and dryers between tenants or for units that don’t include them

A 10x10 storage unit can hold 2-3 appliances plus supplies and tools. It’s cheaper than buying new appliances in an emergency when the only option is same-day delivery from Sioux Falls.

Seasonal Equipment

If you handle your own property maintenance: - Snow removal: Shovels, ice melt, small snowblower - Lawn care: Mower, trimmer, edger, leaf blower - Seasonal swap items: Storm windows and screens, patio furniture for common areas

Abandoned Tenant Property

South Dakota law (SDCL 43-32-25 through 43-32-28) has specific procedures for abandoned tenant property. You can’t just throw it away immediately. Depending on the situation:

• You may need to store the property for a period and provide notice to the former tenant
• A storage unit keeps abandoned items separate from your own property
• It protects you legally by demonstrating you made a good-faith effort to preserve the property

Consult with a local attorney on the specific requirements, but having storage space available prevents legal headaches.

Staging Furniture

Some landlords keep a set of basic staging furniture — a bed frame, small table, chairs — to make units look better during showings. This is more common in competitive rental markets, but even in Tyndall or Springfield, a staged unit rents faster than an empty box.

Store staging furniture in your unit between uses. It’s accessible when you need it and doesn’t take up space in your own home.

The Business Case for a Storage Unit

Time Savings

When a tenant moves out and you need to turn the unit fast, having all your supplies in one organized location saves hours. You’re not running to Yankton for paint, searching your garage for that one tool, or trying to remember where you put the spare faucet.

Drive to your storage unit, load the truck, and go to work.

Cost Savings

• Bulk buying — buy paint, hardware, and supplies in bulk at contractor prices. Store the surplus.
• Emergency preparedness — a burst pipe at 10 PM on a Saturday is a lot less expensive when you have supplies on hand instead of paying emergency markup.
• Appliance insurance — keeping a spare fridge or stove means you’re not paying retail plus rush delivery when one fails.

Professionalism

Organized landlords attract and retain better tenants. When you can respond to maintenance requests quickly because you have supplies ready, tenant satisfaction goes up and turnover goes down.

Tax Deduction

Storage unit rental for business use is a deductible business expense. If you’re managing rental properties, the unit is directly related to your business. Keep receipts and document the business use. Talk to your accountant — in southeast South Dakota, that might be the same person who does your farm taxes.

Organizing Your Landlord Storage Unit

Zone It

• Front: Frequently needed items — tools, common maintenance supplies, cleaning products
• Middle: Appliances, seasonal equipment, less frequently needed items
• Back: Long-term storage — records, archived documents, staging furniture

Label Everything

• Color-code by property if you manage multiple units — red labels for the Tyndall property, blue for Springfield, etc.
• Inventory list on the wall inside the unit — you should be able to glance and know if something’s missing

Shelf It

Freestanding metal shelves ($30-50 each) keep supplies organized and accessible. Small parts in labeled bins on shelves are infinitely better than a pile of bags on the floor.

See our complete organization guide for more tips.

What Size Unit Do You Need?

For most small-scale landlords in southeast SD:

• 5x5: Minimal — tools, paint, hardware, small supplies only. Works for one-property owners.
• 5x10: The sweet spot for 1-3 property owners. Room for supplies, a few appliances, and seasonal equipment.
• 10x10: For landlords managing 4+ units or those who keep staging furniture and multiple spare appliances.
• 10x15+: Property managers with larger portfolios, bulk supplies, and extensive equipment.

Climate Control Considerations

Needs climate control: - Paint (freezes below 35°F, goes bad above 90°F) - Electronics (spare TVs, thermostats, smart home devices) - Documents and records

Fine without climate control: - Tools and hardware - Appliances (short-term — long-term storage of appliances benefits from climate control) - Cleaning supplies (check labels for temperature limits) - Seasonal outdoor equipment

Property Records Storage

South Dakota requires landlords to keep certain records: - Lease agreements — keep for the duration of tenancy plus several years - Security deposit records — required documentation under SD law - Maintenance records — protect yourself in disputes - Financial records — for tax purposes, keep 7 years minimum

File boxes on shelves in your storage unit, organized by property and year. It’s more accessible than your attic and more organized than a drawer at home.

Streamline Your Rental Business

A storage unit isn’t an expense — it’s a tool that makes your rental properties more profitable and less stressful to manage. Faster turnovers, lower maintenance costs, better preparedness, and a tax deduction to boot.

Lock N’ Leave It Storage in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman offers month-to-month units that scale with your property portfolio. Drive-up access means loading and unloading maintenance supplies is quick and easy. Contact us to find the right unit for your rental business — whether you manage one property or twenty.