Posted on: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
As a landlord, you will be pleased that the lettings market is performing well, however, there is always room for improvement. One way of optimising your investment and making it both more lucrative and secure is to make your property stand out. Stand-out properties attract stand-out tenants and learning how to make this happen is relatively straightforward.
Start with the basics: create a clean, bright, and spacious setting that is free from blemishes. Shining tiles, mirrors, and kitchen and furniture surfaces with dust-free and as flawless as possible windowsills make good first impressions. If the property is partially or fully furnished, create the most inviting and optimum layout. Use good-quality furniture and consider cleaning any upholstery to help your property’s scent become a breath of fresh air. From stylish storage units, coffee tables, USB sockets, and dried flowers, you have many options while leaving space for the individual creativity of new occupants.
Nice outdoor lighting, decking, a barbecue area, or a pizza oven could transform a simple yard or a garden into something a bit more special. Tenants will happily pay more for good outdoor spaces. If you are letting an apartment, make the balcony a comfortable place to unwind. Smart technology in the form of appliances such as fridges, which allow you to view their contents from anywhere, to security, and lighting could help increase energy efficiency. Creating a secure and relaxing home that is easier to manage and live in compared to rival homes will increase its desirability. If you are redeveloping the property, consider sliding glass walls, wall removal, or a new kitchen and bathroom.
Your tenants may be moving in during the summer months and will love any summery themes that improve the property. However, they will most likely have the winter at the back of their minds. Leave hints that winter will be warm and wonderful too. If the property has had new windows, a replacement boiler, or blackout blinds fitted recently, then these features are both practical and in demand during the summer and the winter. Ideally, you want your tenants to be happy and content all year round.
During the summer months, the garden and outdoor areas will be at the forefront of tenants’ lists of wants. So, make every effort to make these areas stand out. Fuse functionality with spaciousness, quality, and cleanliness. French doors that flow to nice outdoor spaces are features worth talking about. A new oven, or improved bathroom with a feature bath is also worth capturing with good photographs so these features are seen by potential tenants. Perhaps your property is fitted with air conditioning, a hot tub, or an outdoor dining area with plenty of privacy.
There is little point in preparing your property to the highest standards if it is not compliant or safe. If you are a discerning landlord interested in achieving a good return on investment, you will place paramount importance on letting it to the right tenants. Once they have moved in after thorough referencing and your deposit has been collected, you want your property to remain in tip-top condition. Choosing the right team could mean you don’t have to worry about carrying out any of this yourself.
If you are looking to invest or for a lettings team that stands out, get in touch with your local Guild Member.
We are required by law to conduct anti-money laundering checks on all those selling or buying a property. Whilst we retain responsibility for ensuring checks and any ongoing monitoring are carried out correctly, the initial checks are carried out on our behalf by Lifetime Legal who will contact you once you have agreed to instruct us in your sale or had an offer accepted on a property you wish to buy. The cost of these checks is £60 (incl. VAT), which covers the cost of obtaining relevant data and any manual checks and monitoring which might be required. This fee will need to be paid by you in advance of us publishing your property (in the case of a vendor) or issuing a memorandum of sale (in the case of a buyer), directly to Lifetime Legal, and is non-refundable. We will receive some of the fee taken by Lifetime Legal to compensate for its role in the provision of these checks.