Getting your house ready to rent is worth the time and effort that you’ll need to spend on it. You don’t want to put your house out on the market as-is. You want it to look appealing and attractive to prospective renters because you’re trying to find the best tenants and charge the most rent. The condition of your home does matter, and we’re providing 6 easy steps to ensure the property is rent ready.
First Impressions: Curb Appeal
Before they check out the inside of your property, prospective tenants will drive past it to get an idea of the neighborhood and how it looks from the outside. If it doesn’t look good, they won’t bother to see the inside. First impressions count, so make sure your home has curb appeal. You need a clean, well-lit entry and a lawn that’s mowed and bushes that are trimmed. Consider some colorful flowers near the door and make sure the mulch is fresh in your flower beds.
Keep the Property Clean
No one wants to live with someone else’s dirt. Have your property professionally cleaned before you put it on the market or allow anyone to see it. This needs to be a deep clean, so that the sinks and tubs sparkle and prospective tenants won’t be horrified at the idea of their small children crawling around on the floors. Have it cleaned and keep it clean so you can show it with confidence.
Make Necessary Repairs
Everything in the property should be working and functional. You don’t want to have to promise prospective tenants that you’ll fix something before they move in. Make sure everything works before you start showing it. Inspect the property thoroughly, and look for leaks, loose knobs, locks that aren’t locking, and appliances that won’t turn on.
Consider Updates and Upgrades
You don’t need to remodel the entire bathroom or install stainless appliances and granite countertops, but you do need to make a few small upgrades that will keep the property looking modern and eye-catching. Switch out the blinds in the common areas, update to a modern and appealing paint color and put in new carpet. These small cosmetic changes can make a big difference.Pricing Properly
Before you begin to list and advertise your rental, you need to price it. The goal is always to earn as much as you can, but keep your price competitive. If you price it too high, you’ll only have a longer vacancy period.
Marketing the Home
Once you have it rent ready and priced properly, it’s time to attract those tenants. Advertise online, where all the prospective tenants are looking, and put a high-quality sign in the yard with your contact information and pertinent information.
Get the most value out of your rental property by preparing it for the market correctly. If you aren’t willing to do these things, you’re going to attract tenants who are likely to care about the property a lot less than you do. If you need help finding property managers in Metro Detroit who can help you get your property rent ready, contact us at AG Management. We’d be happy to help.
