Excellent Ways to Make Your Rental Property More Appealing

When prospective tenants to check out a rental home, the last thing they want to see chipping paint, worn-out carpets, traces of water damage and mould, as well as the broken or outdated appliances. Such deficiencies signal them that you hand taken care to maintain the property, and there’s no telling what else might be broken or disarrayed.

Besides, by investing in upgrading your property you can eliminate the location penalty, that is if your rental isn’t located in a favourable part of town.                 

Who is your target market

For you to be able to advertise your property and hope to attract the right kind of tenants, first, you need to define who you want your tenants to be. Are you hoping for students and young couples, or you’d rather have a family move in? If your property is situated close to a campus, you’ll have no trouble reeling in students at any time of the year.

On the other hand, young couples provide better stability, but they have different organisational and spatial needs than a group of roomies. A family probably provides the greatest stability and is expected to rent your property for a long time, but their choices are typically based on available public transport, schools, shopping centres, quality of neighbourhood, etc. Once you know who your ideal tenant is, your other effects will appear much easier. 

Consider the curb appeal

If the exterior of your building is not up to the interior, a potential tenant won’t even bother coming inside. To spruce up your rental’s curb appeal, first, you need to remove weeds, rubbish, and debris from your front yard, as well as make sure the lawn, shrubbery, and trees are well-manicured. If you have a porch or a veranda, add a few planters or climbing vines to create a lively and welcoming feeling.

Just remember to water them regularly, as dead plants are no better than no plants. Scrape chipped paint from the fence, mailbox, and woodwork, and apply a new coat. Fix the broken shades and mosquito nets. Take care that the gate and house number plaque are in good condition. Make sure there’s a neat designated area for rubbish and recycling bins. 

Make it safe and secure

While the largest part of your rental’s security is linked to its location, there are several things you can do to make your tenants feel safer. Apart from retrofitting a solid wood door with deadbolt locks and impact-resistant windows, you can also employ less-imposing measures, such as motion-activated outdoor lighting. Also, by obtaining a building cover for your property, you will hedge it against any kind of damage as a result of unexpected events like burglary, fire, storm, escaping water, civil unrest, etc. Some packages even include a $500 reimbursement for keys and locks in the case of key theft, while paid accommodation for up to 12 months if the home is made inhabitable due to an insured event might be interesting for both landlords and tenants.  

Focus on the kitchen and bathrooms

It’s often said that kitchens and bathrooms sell properties, or in your case, attract and retain quality renters. While you don’t have to give these spaces a complete remodel, start by making sure they’re clean. Mop the floors, polish the appliances, and makes sure reflective surfaces are free from smudges and fingerprints. When your rooms are clean you can see if you can do anything else to make them more appealing.

Perhaps new knobs and handles for cabinets will make a bigger impact than they cost. If your finances allow it, try to purchase matching appliances. Replace the bathroom mat with a new one and consider adding a few décor touches, such as a basket with folded towels and toiletries, a moisture-friendly plant, scented candles, etc.

Splurge on quality furniture

When it comes to furniture, quality doesn’t have to mean expensive. Instead of falling for the trendiest designs and hottest colours, focus on functionality and versatility, especially if you’re renting a studio or a small house. Regardless of your property size, make sure to obtain all the essential furniture pieces.

Furniture that can pull double duty, like club tables with hidden storage, pull-out sofas, collapsible tables, and work desks, are going to be especially interesting to single professionals and young couples looking for a smaller rental unit closer to the city’s business district. 

Don’t get too personal

In decorating your rental, it’s best to leave your personal preferences at the door. Keep in mind that you won’t be the one living in it, which mean you should focus on the design that will appeal to a wide group of people. When it comes to walls, whites, off-whites, and neutrals are the safest course, as they provide a clean backdrop what works with any style. Although wall-to-wall carpets protect the floor underneath, they accumulate a lot of dust and debris, which can be an instant turnoff for people with allergies. Instead look at durable yet inexpensive vinyl designs, wood laminate, or hypoallergenic linoleum.

With property renting becoming a lucrative business, your competition is becoming fiercer every day. The only way to make your offer stand above the crowd is to make your rental more attractive by offering extra comfort, security, space, and appeal, without affecting the rent.