Want to improve your rental property in Wales? Here are our top tips to get the best rental price for it.
So you’re a Landlord and need to improve your rental property in Wales as you’re about to put your property on the rental market – but is it really ready for visits from prospective tenants? If you want to get the best possible price, it’s worth spending some time and money making sure it will appeal to the right people. The good news is, it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Here are 8 affordable tips.
- Think “kerb appeal”
Kerb appeal is how your property looks from the outside. Is paint peeling from the door, is the garden overgrown, do facias need touching up? Remember that first impressions count, and a small investment in improving the external look of the property could not only increase its attractiveness but also boost its perceived value.
- Get out the paintbrush
Paint is a cheap and easy way to give a house a fresh look, so it’s a good idea to freshen your property up from top to toe before showing it to prospective tenants. The general rule of thumb is to go for pale, neutral colours because these are unlikely to cause offense, and can make the house feel lighter, larger and cleaner. Opt for whites with a hint of colour, as this can add a touch of warmth.
- Spruce up the kitchen
The kitchen is an important factor for most prospective tenants, and while a new fitted kitchen might be beyond your budget, there are plenty of ways to spruce the space up for less. Consider sourcing a second-hand fitted kitchen – these are readily available online – or simply refresh the doors and work surfaces. Doors can be repainted and new knobs and handles can be added, while a new work surface can transform the look of the room for a relatively small outlay.
- Brighten up the bathroom
Bathrooms are another key consideration for tenants, so take a critical look at what your property has to offer. A shower is a big plus – make sure it works well; often replacing the shower head will be enough to make a massive difference. Again, a lick of paint can go a long way – but be sure to use waterproof, mould-proof, wipe-clean paints, and avoid startling colours. If the bathroom tiles are dated, you can achieve a speedy facelift by painting them with tile paint. Carpets are generally a bad idea in the bathroom, quickly becoming damp and stained, so replace any carpet with cost-effective lino.
- Clean, clean, clean – and repair
Nobody wants to move into a grimy house, so spend plenty of time cleaning it, or get a specialist cleaner in to do a deep clean. Pay particular attention to easy to miss elements such as mouldy window frames and dusty skirting boards. Tough stains can be removed with bicarbonate of soda mixed into a paste with water. Also check that the property is in a good state of repair – look at details such as power points, doors, windows and woodwork.
- Tidy up the garden
If you want your new tenants to imagine life in your property, make sure the garden makes a good impression. If it’s overgrown, trim it right back – and make sure the lawn has been mowed. Plant low-maintenance plants and consider adding a couple of items of garden furniture: make it easy for people to imagine themselves lounging there.
- Clean or replace the carpets
Stained carpets are one of the most off-putting things about rental properties. Improve your rental property in Wales through carpet care. If the staining is fairly superficial, a carpet cleaner may bring them back to life, but bear in mind that recarpeting a house does not have to be particularly expensive and can make it look as good as new. If in doubt, replace.
- Consider what your ideal tenant will want
Whether it’s broadband, an enclosed garden for children to play in, stylish furniture or a great kitchen, your prospective tenant will almost certainly have a wish list of things they want from a property. Consider your ideal tenant and what their tastes and lifestyle will be like – then tweak your property to appeal to them.
Need help improving your rental property in Wales? At Morgan Jones we can manage your rental property in Swansea for a great price to carefully vetted tenants – and if it needs repairs and freshening up between tenancies, we’ve got it covered. Get in touch today to find out more.
