When renting out property, it's important to make sure that you draw in as many good tenants as possible. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most effective ways is to make sure your property is absolutely ready to be sold. Spice things up, fix imperfections, repaint the walls, anything to make your property more appealing. Here is a list of steps you can take to bring out the best in your property's appearance:
1. Dust Away Webs
Cobwebs on the property can take away from the aesthetics, so dust away any webs that may be indoors ( in corners and on walls) and outdoors (near overhangs, lights, and doorways).
2. Inspect, Clean, or Replace Screens
If a screen is torn anywhere, then it allows insects and other pests into your rental property. Repair or replace any damaged screens on the property to save money on pest control.
3. Inspect, Clean, or Replace Windows and Sliding Glass Doors
Dust and dirt can get into the cracks of windows and sliding doors, making them operate less than perfect. By cleaning out the crevices and corners, you can avoid costly repairs and jammed doors.
4. Get Rid of Pests
Even if there isn’t a bug problem in the property, it’s still a wise idea to have a professional pest control company come in and treat your property for common pests in that area.
5. Check Light Sources
Wipe down all of the light bulbs that still work, inside the property and outside. If they are broken or need to be replaced, change them out with more efficient ones. Newer energy-saving light bulbs require less energy and don’t have to be changed out as often, so they'll save you more money than older bulbs.
6. Examine Ceiling Fans
Make sure all of the ceiling fans in the house work properly and are clear of dust. If the property is older, than this becomes more important.
7. Tidy Up the Yard
If your property has dying shrubs or growing weeds, then selling the property could be a problem. Trim the bushes, pull weeds, cut the grass, plant new flowers, and wash the dirt from the cracks in the sidewalk. Do what you can to make your property’s yard look amazing.
8. Change Out Air Filters
Clean out the vents and replace all the air filters. Something to consider is to switch out any reusable filters with disposable ones. By doing this, no cleaning is needed and the filter only needs to be replace with another disposable one. One less thing to worry about.
9. Professionally Clean the Interior
Tenants would like to move into a clean home and not sleep in a dirty room. A normal cleaning won’t do, so bring in professional cleaners to clean up the interior and get rid of any unappealing messes.
10. Professionally Clean the Carpet
Any residue in the carpets can attract even more dirt, so get the carpets cleaned with a professional steam and shampoo treatment. They’ll look and feel a lot nicer afterwards.
11. Repair, Fix, and Repaint
Fix up any imperfections in the floors or walls before applying a new coat of paint. After the professional carpet cleaning, there may be signs of damage in the carpets. Repair the spots or just replace the carpet all together.
12. Rekey All of the Locks
Old tenants (or others) may have old keys and codes to the property, so rekey and recode all of the locks on the property, from doors, to sheds, to gates. Also make sure you have keys and codes to all HOA-issued remotes and codes.
13. Final Check for Details
After everything’s been cleaned and replaced, take a last look and spy out any other unappealing spots. Make sure that your property is looking as good as it could be.
By following these steps, you can really bring in a good selection of tenants. Compared to a home or apartment not ready, yours will be much more appealing. It’ll have a neat exterior as well as a clean interior that’ll put your house at the top of their list. They'll be more willing to cooperate and your job will be a lot easier. Contact PMI today to find out more!
