It never fails to surprise me when I hear a property owner tell me that it isn’t worth the effort to improve the curb appeal of their home, since “it’s just a rental.” After all, it might just be a rental to the owner, but it will be a home for someone.

For most property owners, the goal is to minimize vacancy time and attract high quality renters. To achieve that goal in the simplest and most effective way possible, it’s critical to put in a little extra work, money and time into making the home appealing.

Little things like pressure washing the driveway, mowing the grass, clearing away debris, and trimming the hedges will provide a great return on investment. A potential tenant that views the place will recognize that the owner has placed an emphasis on properly maintaining the property.

From a tenant’s perspective, it’s much easier to imagine living in a home that has been well-maintained versus a property that has fallen into disrepair. Oftentimes a renter will form a judgment about a property owner from the condition of the house. Whether that judgement is accurate or not, the takeaway is that people want to know their needs will be taken care of should they decide to live there. 

The natural extension of this idea is that the interior of the property needs to look as good as possible. Renters want to move into a clean and functional house that does not have a long list of items in need of repair. Taking care of minor issues such as leaking faucets and sticking doors will help to make a great first impression.

Many additional tasks will need to be performed to minimize vacancies and get a high quality renter that pays on time. Painting the walls in a home is a huge undertaking, but it will certainly improve a property’s appeal. Another important task is to hire a professional cleaner. It’s not enough to do it yourself.

A professional cleaner will take care of many jobs that a property owner might overlook. As an example, many property owners will forget about the tops of the cabinets, the blades of the ceiling fans, the baseboards or the oven, but a professional cleaner will ensure that these areas are clean. It will also pay dividends to get a professional carpet cleaner into the home.

Hiring a professional to handle the larger tasks associated with preparing a property for the rental market is typically not appealing to the property owner. Many who balk at the idea mention the costs; others mention that they could take care of everything relating to the property if only they had the time.

The simple fact is that it’s worth it. A little extra time, money and effort applied toward increasing the physical condition of a property will equal a decreased amount of hassles and more profits in the long run.

For information about how to maximize your rental property’s aesthetic appeal, please send an email to our office at [email protected], or visit WilmingtonForRent.com.   

Sweyer Property Management has been providing real estate property management services and long-term rentals to the Wilmington area since 1987. The company continues to be the industry leader with more than 1400+ units and more than 20 employees. Sweyer Property Management has exhibited continuous growth throughout the Wilmington, Leland and Hampstead areas while maintaining a 4.8 Google+ rating for customer service. To inquire about the company’s full-service management services, or to take a tour of houses for rent in the area, email [email protected], or visit WilmingtonForRent.com. You can also Like and follow the Sweyer Property Management Facebook page to get property management tips or see properties for rent.