Encino – Property Management – Curb Appeal
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ENCINO
6 Ways to Boosting the Curb Appeal of Your Rental Property
Being a landlord and a part-time property manager, I like to think I have a good feel for what makes a rental property attractive to potential tenants. For me, the curb appeal of a property should be high on any landlord’s list. It is, after all, the first, and even last, thing any potential tenant will see.
Although sprucing up the outside of a rental property sounds like something you’d only invest in when selling the property, I feel it’s just as important, and well worth the small expense, of a few little tweaks and mods to turn a drab exterior into something much more beautiful and attractive to potential tenants. Think of it this way, an attractive exterior could be the difference between a weeks void and several months.
If you want more motivation for sprucing up your rental property’s exterior, bear in mind that a well presented property will help attract the “right” kind of tenant, and attracting the right kind of tenant could be the difference between a pleasant let, and one consisting of dealing with late payments, rent arrears and property damage.
Here are my six ways for boosting the curb appeal of your rental property:
1. Think about placing some fresh plants, flower boxes or wall-hangers outside the front door. The sweet smell and appealing look of plants will entice viewing tenants and leave a pleasant memory. You can buy ready made plant containers from garden centres fairly inexpensively.
2. Have the windows cleaned. Nothing is more off putting than grimy windows. Clean windows will let more light into the property, which will make it appear brighter and fresher inside.
3. Clear the garden, cut back the trees and bushes, and mow the lawn. Clutter in the garden and overgrown vegetation gives the impression that you, as the landlord, don’t care about the property. Potential tenants want to quickly settle into a property without too much hassle.
4. Consider installing garden lights along the walkway. You can buy some decent quality solar garden lights for as little as a quid a piece at discount stores. This will set your property apart during the darker winter months and late evening when tenants are likely to visit.
5. Make sure your gutters are clear. Nothing gives a bad impression of a landlord’s ability to maintain his property than a mossy, overflowing gutter.
6. Renew the paint on fences, walls, doors and windowsills if they’ve begun to fade or become moldy. Again, this shows that you’re a landlord that keeps on top of property maintenance and sets the standards for new tenants.
There you have it, six quick, simple and inexpensive ways you can boost the curb appeal of your rental property, which will make it much more appealing and irresistible to the right types of tenants.
By M James Airey
