Property Presentation Tips
First Impressions are critical when a prospective tenant inspects your property.First, decide what sort of tenant you are targeting. There are tenants who want to save money and are happy to live in the property that is not in first class condition.
There are others, such as professional people, who are happy to pay top rent, but expect the property to present at its absolute best.There is no doubt that well presented properties achieve top rents and usually attract the best quality tenants. That adds up to a higher investment return, together with fewer and shorter vacancy periods.
Here are some valuable property presentation tips:- Tend the gardens, mow the lawns and clean the windows, paths, gutters and outside paintwork. These are all things seen from the street, and you don’t want prospective tenants to dismiss the property before getting to the front door.
- Repair or replace leaking taps, sticking doors, broken light fittings, loose door handles, rotten floor boards, leaky gutters and torn fly screens.
- If you are thinking about painting, use light, neutral colours as strong colours may not be to the tenant’s taste. If paint is generally in good condition, touch up scruffy bits.
- If your property is in a noisy area (such as main road) ensure that the side of the house that is likely to be effected has insulation or window/door draft excluders fitted.
- Get rid of odours that you may not notice but prospective tenants will, such as cigarette or pet smells. It is always worth having the carpets and curtains cleaned, neither of which is very expensive.
- Open the curtains and blinds to let the sun and the view inside. Nobody likes a dark house, and the view will make the rooms feel bigger.
- Have the property clean, tidy and uncluttered at inspection times.
- If your property has a pool, ensure the pool and the surrounds are sparkling clean. You want the perspective tenants to think it is an asset, not a burden. If the filter or the pool needs professional repairs, it is better to do it now rather than putting it off. The repairs are usually tax deductible.
- Ensure that all electrical wiring and power points are safe. This includes any electrical appliances to be included with the property.