How to Prepare Your Property for Rentals

Many of our clients purchase properties for investment purposes, i.e. to rent out as either a short or long term rental.

However, there are significant differences between preparing your property to show for sale and preparing it for rent. It goes without saying that any kind of property should be furnished to make the best use of the given space, the light and the design of the room. More often than not, buyers tend to favour neutral décor and colours so that they are able to picture their own things within the property. When people are looking to buy a home, they want to understand if they will need to do any kind of maintenance work. If they like the property in general but dislike the kitchen or bathroom perhaps they will still go ahead with the purchase and be happy to change the things that they are not happy with.  

Most people who wish to rent a property look for one that is furnished. As the furniture is part of the rental package, the landlord should do his utmost to ensure they are of reasonable quality and the meet the expectations of any potential tenant.

Landlords who have experience in letting their properties for rent will understand the importance of furnishing the property with the necessary items and probably a few extra decorative items to give it that cosy feeling. If some pictures and ornamental items are not to the tenant’s taste, they can always put them away in a cupboard and display their own.

Shabby furnishing with holes in the sofa and unsightly stains on the bedding will not entice the tenant to merrily pay his deposit and submit to a rental contract, either long or short term. In fact, they would more than likely turn on their heel.

 If your property is renting at a high price, then you should consider the quality of the furnishings.

 It is pointless to pay a substantial amount of money for a high class property then fill it with low-cost and scruffy furniture. It should be  stylish and comfortable. Not necessarily very expensive, but of good quality.

 Potential tenants don’t just look at the property and its contents. They take other things into consideration, such as the locality and  where it is situated in relation to public transportation, convenience stores and possibly their place of work. If the property you wish to let  to a tenant is a house, then you should make sure the outside is well-kept and the garden (assuming there is one) is not overgrown as  this will appear like the property has not been lived in nor maintained for some time and will undoubtedly deter any prospective tenant  before they even view the interior. 

 For a number of tenants today, especially those with a corporate background, renting the furnishings in a property are just as important  as the property itself. Some tenants have a careers and lifestyles that make renting a property much more convenient than buying for  themselves. However, they still look for that same level of comfort and style as they would in their own home.

 How you present your property for rent will affect how quickly you find a tenant for it and also whether the tenant stays long term and  considers renewing or extending their rental contract. So give your presentation some considerable thought before snapping your  photos and sending it to every agent in town and hoping to get lucky!