When it comes to renting a property, creative license can be somewhat limited for the tenant. With most properties providing strict guidance on painting the walls, hanging frames and mirrors, and changing home accessories such as curtains and blinds, it can be hard for a new occupant to really make a house a home.
With this is mind, it’s crucial that landlords present their property in a way that allows its natural potential to shine through, whilst giving prospective tenants an opportunity to visualise themselves settling in and making it their own. After all, matching people and property works both ways.
Here are five ways that landlords can make the most of property viewings and ensure that the people who come through the door are snapping your hand off to move in.
Decorate in neutral themes
It goes without saying that appealing to every potential tenant will allow a landlord to make the most out of the viewing period. Painting the walls, and fitting flooring or carpet, in neutral colours like soft whites, creams and light greys maximises the property’s base appeal. Tenants can then add pops of colour and themes that suit their taste with furniture (if unfurnished) and accessorise with cushions, throws, rugs and ornaments to make the property feel like home.
Cleanliness
Nobody wants to view a property that looks lived in or messy, let alone move into one. If you’re photographing your property for a listing, or you have tenants booked in for a viewing, it’s best to make sure that it’s in optimum condition. Along with vacuuming, dusting and plumping up a cushion here or there, decluttering gives potential occupants plenty of opportunity to visualise how they would dress the property. Take a look at our top tips on decluttering your home for more details.
Clear spaces
Decluttering should also mean depersonalising. Stow away personal items such as toiletries in the bathroom, food items in the kitchen, and any photographs belonging to you or the current tenants. In doing so, you’ll create more empty surfaces and open spaces which will again, offer a blank canvas for future tenants to add a personal touch with their own accessories and personal belongings.
Tackle the kitchen and bathroom
Kitchens and bathrooms tend to sell properties, but they are also some of the most used rooms in a home meaning they are prone to wear and tear. Whilst we aren’t suggesting that you need get new ones fitted, it is worth considering if there’s any maintenance issues that a potential tenant might pick up on, such as a dirty oven or mildew in the bathroom. Both can be easily resolved with a bit of elbow grease, but it’s worth paying extra attention to these areas.
Flexibility with viewings
Once your property is in an optimum condition to welcome potential tenants for viewings, the best way to maximise your chances of finding the right occupant for your property is to be flexible with viewings. Be prepared for viewing requests outside of normal working hours and on weekends too. The easier you make it to view your property, the more likely you are to find the right tenant for you.
If you’ve got any other top tips to share on maximising on rental property viewings, we’d love to hear them! Share your advice on social with #matchingpeopleandproperty and tag @marshandparsons
Go Back