There are many reasons why you might decide to rent out your property. Maybe you landed a new job and need to relocate, or a change in the market makes it more profitable to downsize and rent out your home. Whatever the reason, renting your home to a tenant is an excellent opportunity to make extra income or to pay off the house while you work and live somewhere else.
Before you do, however, you need to make a checklist. Here are some items to consider.
Update the Exterior
The exterior of the property is the first thing people see, and it can make a big impression. Even if the interior is stellar, the lingering look of the outside might be the deciding factor. Make sure all the maintenance is up to date, which means garden landscaping, raking, gutter cleaning, and roof repairs. Check and replace exterior lights and ensure all paths are clear. Consider replacing your exterior doors to something more striking; this can make all the difference to that valuable first impression.
Get the Right Tools
Making your home renter-ready will require many fixes and updates. For this, you will probably need to invest in some tools, such as spades, garden forks, hammers and screwdrivers, and plenty of fixings. This is no bad thing; you want to make it easy for your new tenants to do their own repairs on the property and keep the place in good working order. It’s also an idea to brainstorm what could go wrong for them and buy in replacement parts, such as the mac 3 float switch price.
Draw up Some Rules
One thing you want to avoid at all costs is a horrible dispute between you, your tenants, and/or the agency. This can happen very easily because of miscommunication and misunderstanding. But if you draw up a set of house rules and put them on the wall – preferable in a discrete location that won’t make them feel uncomfortable – you can avoid confrontations and legal complications. House rules might include things like quiet hours, garbage removal, and conditions for late rent payments.
Declutter the Interior
Your tastes might not be for everyone, and you want to appeal to a broad market. Do this by decluttering your rental home from top to bottom. Try to keep units and pictures neutral and minimal, and don’t be afraid to take more than one trip to the thrift store. Wash the ceilings and walls, at a minimum, and make repairs where necessary. You don’t want your new tenants to start off with complaints about worn walls, leaky pipes, or poor ventilation.
Wash and Repair
As well as fixing up the walls, washing them, and decluttering, you need to update the interior decoration. That means curtains, fixings, colors, lighting, and flooring. You don’t have to go all-out but replace the furnishings with neutral colors where possible and ensure floors and carpets and appliances are washed and clean; this includes cupboards and places that are not visible. It’s a good idea to paint the walls with a neutral color or repair them if you can afford to. When you are dealing with any electrical fixtures such as light fittings, wall sockets, and switches make sure you use a professional such as Caslec Electricians.
Leave a Reply