Creating the best house possible for renters takes making sure everything is running well and accommodating a wide variety of renters. Here are a few tips.
Why rent your property?
Are you thinking about offering your house for rent? Or, are you thinking about renting out a room in your house? People do this for a little bit of extra income either while they are away or if they have space to spare and could use extra cash. If it’s something that you have been thinking about, then it’s a good idea to start looking into the kinds of things that you should be doing to make your house appealing to those who are looking for a rental property.
Check the roof.
Let’s start with the biggest part of the house: you need to check the roof. The roof needs to be secure no matter who is living there. If you feel comfortable, grab your ladder and head up to the roof, check for any loose shingle areas, ensure that there is no damage, and look out for any mold or anything that seems suspicious. Basically, anything that either signals damage, or potential damage needs to be sorted as soon as possible. Snap photos of these issues.
Basic issues can be fixed by an experienced DIYer, so there may not be a need to spend money on hiring someone for a small job that shouldn’t take too long. If you’re feeling stuck as to how to fix the issue though, a quick search online should give you the answer that you need.
While you’re up high and checking the roof, make sure to take a peek at your gutters. Make sure that they are empty and not overflowing, because clogged up gutters cause leaks, which can cause damp and mold in your home. Nobody is going to want to rent a space that has a roof issue.
Look at the heating and air conditioning.
Taking a look at the heating and air conditioning is next. During the winter months you need to ensure that your home is warm, and in the summer months you need to ensure your home is cool enough. As such, you need to test out both parts of your HVAC system to remain confident that they are working correctly. If you notice that there is something about the system that isn’t working, fix it as soon as possible.
HVAC systems are complex, and they are not something that you should be messing with unless you are trained to do so. The majority of people are not, so instead you need to call someone who specializes in furnace repair, or air conditioning repair, depending on what the problem is. A certified company like Fox Family Heating And Repair is always a good choice, so just make sure that you do your research before you commit to any one company.
Create an overall theme.
If you want your home to be appealing, consider having an overall theme that runs throughout. When you are decorating, think about what would appeal to a large number of people, not just one small family. Check out recent shelter publications like Better Homes & Gardens or visit Houzz for current design trends.
If you’re going to be renting out on a permanent basis and you’re going to be living somewhere else then keep the decoration simple. People usually want to put their own stamp on their home when they move in, and that’s completely okay. As such, you should be sticking to very simple items and decorating choices, as this will be easier for them to adjust.
Or, if you’re going to be renting out space in your home but not the entire property, then just go with a theme that you like. It’s still your home, so you need to love it and feel comfortable there.
Clean up the yard and garden.
Do you have a garden? If you do, then make sure that you are keeping it in the best possible condition. After someone rents the space, it then may become their job to take care of the exterior of the home, but in order to get to a point where someone wants to rent it, you may need to put in some effort. Make sure that the grass is neatly mowed, make sure that there are no (or very few) weeds, and generally make sure that it’s a nice place to be.
If you want your home to appeal to families who have children and pets then perhaps you can create a section of the garden that is intended to be a play area. Ensuring that there is a blocked off section that is safe for kids and pets to play in is a fantastic idea.
Call in the professionals.
There are going to be times when you’re not sure what you can do to improve your property. There are also going to be issues that you can’t see, so it’s helpful to call in the professionals and get some advice and/or help. There are professionals out there who can go through your property, pointing out anything that is potentially dangerous that could indicate that there is an issue below the surface, and generally giving advice as to how to better your home.
It might be the case that some of these improvements will need professionals to complete them as well depending on your experience and the complexities of the issue. Anything to do with electric is usually best handled by someone who is trained to do this, and not someone who just thinks that they know what they are doing.
Keep it light.
To make your home more appealing, maximize natural light. Natural light is important for properties, so the more that you can let in, the better. It might even be worth adding a skylight to really give your home that little something extra. It gives you a little edge over the others on the market, and will help you appeal to potential renters.
Also, try not to block off your windows. Some people put things in front of windows or they put thick curtains up even when it’s not winter, but all you are doing is blocking the natural light from making your home shine.
If there are any issues with your windows, make sure that you are fixing them immediately.
Maximize space.
Lastly, try to maximize the amount of space that you have in your home. Ensure that there isn’t clutter everywhere, even if you are going to be offering your renters a furnished property. Take the time to look into the different ways of doing this so that your home can look as spacious as possible, appealing to more people. For example, the addition of shelves can really help avoid a cluttered look, giving you the opportunity to make your space look as big as it actually is.
Whether you are going to be renting out the full property or part of it, you want your renters to feel as though they have as much space as possible. The best thing that you can do though is to essentially clear out anything from the space that you’re going to be renting (unless you are going to be offering furniture) so that your renter can fill the space with their items. It’s also a good idea to have some form of storage, whether that’s an attic, a basement, or even a garage.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should be doing to ensure that you create the best house possible to rent out.
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