Guest Blogger: Decorating a Rental Property; A Landlord’s Guide

 

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Guest Blogger: Decorating a Rental Property; A Landlord’s Guide

Posted: 06 Dec 2011 08:17 AM PST

Guest Blogger #286, Entry #818, December 6, 2011

If you’re renting a property, you need to ensure that the place gives the right impression to tenants when they come to view it. If you want good tenants, it’s important to provide a good home.

Decorate your rental property for tenant appeal

Furnishings

Furnishings will depend on whether you are letting a fully furnished or partly furnished property, or a completely empty one. If you’re planning to provide any furnishings then be sure to use quality items. There are specific tenancy legislations which these must adhere to, so do your research before you buy. Also remember that tenant insurance is a must for landlords. Once you’ve gone to the trouble of decorating your property you’ll want to protect it from damage.

Keep a current inventory

An important part of the process is to keep a full inventory of anything that comes with the property, and this can be checked at the end of a tenancy for damage or loss. Wear and tear is expected but this way you will be able to tell what needs replacing or mending.
Decorating your property will make all the difference, but this doesn’t mean making it reflect your personality. The look and feel of the house should cater to a variety of different tastes, so the key is to keep is clean, simple and easy to maintain.

Set a budget for decor

If you’re worried about cost, remember, this is an investment. You will only get out what you put in, and considerate professional people will want a clean, smart property. Set a decorating budget to help control how much you spend. And if you have the skills to take on some decorating tasks this is a great way to save some money, but don’t scrimp on the more important aspects, such as plumbing, electricity, and flooring.

Exterior

The exterior of any property is the first impression for prospective tenants. If there is a garden with the property, make sure it’s tidy and paths kept clear. Guttering and outdoor plumbing should be clear and functional, and the number on the door should also be clear, and visible from the street.

Create an inviting exterior for your tenants

Interiors

When it comes to interiors, remember to keep tastes general and simple. You’re not decorating for your own home, and everyone has very different tastes, so go for a general style. It’s worth considering the kind of tenant you want to have in your property, and decorate to suit. Lighter colours on the walls are always best to make rooms seem bigger and cleaner. Mirrors are a great way to make small rooms seem larger as well. Light, plain colours will also cater to more tenants, and will allow them to match their own décor with the colour scheme of the rooms.

Create inviting bathroom and kitchen areas

Obviously bathrooms and kitchens should be functional and clean. Consider light coloured tiling, which not only looks smarter, but it easier to maintain than painted walls. It’s a smart idea to keep a record of colours and suppliers you use so you can maintain and redecorate it in future.
For more rental ideas on Stagetecture, click here.