Renting out your property at the price you want can be difficult, but there are some ways you add value to your rental property and put yourself in a better position to ask a higher price.
Appearance is everything
You may have spent a lot of time thinking about how the inside of your property looks, but it is just as important to use the exterior of your house to make a great first impression. A good paint job on the outside will be a promising start. That is important when potential renters see images of the property, and when they later come to view it in person. If the property looks like it’s in disrepair, you won’t even get them to the viewing stage. Or if you do, they’ll begin with a negative impression and will expect to pay a lower rent.
Another thing you can do is invest in blinds. They add to the appearance of both the interior and exterior. With blackout shutters, made from pure hardwood, you can adjust to keep out some or all of the light to suit your rooms and get the desired effect just right. They can also reduce night-time noise from outside and insulate your rooms, helping to keep them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. That can benefit your tenants, helping to reduce the cost of heating or cooling the room. They will be more willing to pay slightly more in rent if they understand the benefits. Adding plants can also add a lot to the look of your property.
Use neutral colours
Some people might opt for more daring or outlandish colours and furniture within their own homes. However, to appeal to a wider market and ensure your property looks like it’s worth every penny you’re asking for in rent, it’s best to stick to more neutral colours. They include white or cream, or light blues or greens. They go best with most types of furniture if the tenant wants to add their own.
Good lighting
Having something a little more sophisticated than a traditional light bulb and switch can make the property more appealing, helping to make a higher rent feel more acceptable. There could be pendant lights or spotlights in the kitchen, wall lights in the dining room, and floor or table lights in the living area to enhance the ambience of the room. Dimmer lights are also an attractive option, giving control over the amount of light in your rooms.
Tiles in the kitchen to match the colour scheme
Investing in wall and flooring for your kitchen and bathroom is also recommended. Tile flooring is easy to clean, durable and available in different styles and colours, so it’s easy to get tiles to match the rest of the kitchen or bathroom.
Kitchen appliances
To add extra value to your rented property, you can add further improvements to your kitchen without spending too much money. If you’re offering the property as furnished, you might want to consider necessary appliances such as a toaster, kettle and microwave. Ensure these don’t clash with your current colour scheme. If they match each other, this can improve the aesthetic appearance of the kitchen, rather than just buying the cheapest appliances available, which may look out of place together.
If you’re supplying white goods as part of the tenancy agreement, make sure they work correctly and they are cleaned thoroughly. They will also need to be checked for electrical safety. Even if they aren’t the most up-to-date models, a thorough clean will improve their appearance as well as adding to the room and making it feel like it’s worth the rent you’re requesting.
Other simple things you can do
There are many more things you can do. Adding a heated towel rail in the bathroom can be a nice touch, particularly when thinking about winter. Other things you can do include having plenty of space-saving storage that adds to the appearance of the rooms and the property in general. Bookcases and drawers which follow the same colour scheme or are made from the same kinds of wood are recommended. Adding a mirror can also enhance a room and make even the smallest of spaces feel larger. Make sure as well not to forget about having a mice control and termite control service.
Despite the many simple things you can do to add property value, it’s best to pick just some of the improvements rather than try to do everything. Whoever you rent to will want a home to live in, not a designer property where they don’t feel comfortable at the end of a long day at work.
