How to Get Your Property Ready for Tenants

Are you are renting your property out for the first time, or re-letting after the last tenant has moved out? If this is the case then you will want to make sure it’s ready and in a habitable condition. After all, you will want to give your prospective new tenants a good impression. Tenants will soon be put off by a grubby or unkempt property. Not sure in what to do? Here’s a quick guide to get you going.

Get Out Your Toolbox

It doesn’t matter whether you are renting out for the first time or re-letting, you will need to go round everything in your property and make sure it is in a good serviceable condition. You will need to check that all the sockets are working, and none of the lightbulbs are broken. It’s great having tenants that look after your property and don’t break anything, but there will always be something hidden away hoping you haven’t seen it. If there isn’t then you have done well!

There needn’t be anything to repair though; maybe all that is needed are some tweaks here and there to tighten cupboard doors, or fit a new washer on a faucet.

Grab Your Mop and Duster

Once you have checked that everything is working and serviceable then it’s time to roll your sleeves up and start cleaning. After all, you wouldn’t want to move into a dusty, soiled apartment would you?

Be methodical in your approach by wiping down and polishing woodwork, washing the windows and mopping all the hard floors. The bathroom will need a good clean, especially around the toilet and behind the sink. Leave the tiles sparking and the mirrors smear free, and as an extra touch you might want to put a rim-block in the toilet bowl. It’s little things like this that leave a good impression.

Time for a Lick of Paint

It doesn’t matter how old the property is, it will at some point need freshening up. More so when you rent it out, as it’s all too easy to mark the walls from leaning bicycles against them or from fixing picture frames up. A little bit of filler and a quick once over with a roller, will soon having the walls looking like new.

It may be that you want to freshen it up a little further, in which case it can be beneficial to update the cupboard handles in the kitchen or fit a new toilet seat in the bathroom. They might be small touches but they will make a big difference when your new tenants sign a contract.

When you have a property to rent, it can be all too easy to neglect its upkeep or pass over small things like sticking cupboard doors or a carpet stain. You have to treat it like a business as that’s what it is. If you market your property properly then you will be able to get a better return from it.