3 Inexpensive Ways to Make People Want to Rent From You
The rental business can be tough — especially when you can’t find renters between occupancies. Is your property sitting vacant for too long between rental cycles? Do people walk out of your showings with a look of disgust on their faces?
If so, your property could use a makeover. We’re not talking about a major renovation; just some minor adjustments to make the rental more desirable to tenants.
Here are three inexpensive things that’ll attract high quality tenants to your rental.
Add Curb Appeal
What does your rental look like from the street? Does it look like a place you’d want to live?
First impressions are lasting impressions. If the exterior of your rental is not up to par, a prospective tenant may not even want to step foot inside. Here are some cheap ways to increase your property’s curb appeal:
- Remove weeds, trash, and debris.
- Make sure the lawn and shrubbery are well-manicured.
- If you have a porch or outdoor area, add a few flowers and plants to create an inviting, lived-in feeling. Make sure to keep them alive because dead plants are worse than no plants.
- Remove chipped paint, repair broken banisters, and replace torn window screens.
- Make sure the mailbox, light fixtures, and house number decals and plaques are in good condition.
Invest in Paint
A can of quality paint only costs about $25 — and it has the ability to revive tired walls, brighten hallways, and freshen bathrooms.
But what type of paint should you choose?
In a rental, your best option is to go with a satin or semi-gloss paint. With this type of paint, crayon marks, scuff marks, and even grease can easily be wiped off.
While you may be partial to pink or brilliant blue, the majority of people won’t like these colors on the walls. Make your property appeal to the masses by sticking to neutral paint colors, such as beige, grey, and cream.
The neutral theme should also extend to tiles, hardwood floors, carpeting, light fixtures, and cabinets.
Make the Kitchens and Bathrooms Nice
The first order of business in a kitchen or bathroom is to clean. Mop the floors, polish all appliances, and deep clean cabinets (inside and out), bathtubs/showers, toilets, and all hardware; also, make sure the grout gets a good scrubbing. Mirrors and reflective surfaces should be free from film and fingerprints.
Remove dust and cobwebs from the ceiling, and grease from fans and light fixtures. Also, be sure the fixtures have working light bulbs. You will want to highlight the amount of light the property receives; leaving light fixtures with partially working light bulbs is a no-no.
Purchasing new knobs and handles for cabinets is also an inexpensive way to makeover your room.
Conclusion
