5 Tips To Improve Your Rental Property

As 2018 commences, rental property owners should assess their rental portfolio to attract a steady stream of quality and serious rental tenants. Potential tenants will be checking out your website and property photographs before ever even stepping foot on your property. These relatively inexpensive tips will drastically improve your rental property, while maximizing its income potential.

1. Amp Up Your Rental Property Photos

One way to improve your rental property marketing approach is through high quality photographs, which highlight the spectacular features of your property. Many potential property renters will quickly skim through online rental portfolios, and immediatly reject any properties with low resolution and poor quality photographs. 

Consider purchasing a professional DSLR camera to capture high quality, crisp images. If your photography skills are lacking, look into hiring a professional photographer to capture your rental properties in a positive and professional manner. Posting professional photographs of your rental properties online shows potential tentants a clear impression of your property. Furthermore, taking the time and effort to post professional photographs shows potential tenants that the property managers are diligent, professional, and organized. 

If you plan on taking professional images yourself, ensure that the lighting is adequate and not too dark. For interior shots, open nearby blinds and windows to capture natural light. Furthermore, staging is key when taking professional property photographs. Clear rooms of all clutter, and incorporate furniture and props to provide potential tenants with a realistic idea of how their new rental property could look.

2. Modernize Kitchens and Bathrooms

Providing tenants with modern and squeaky clean kitchen and bathrooms will powerfully improve your rental properties. Before upgrading any room, focus on the kitchen and bathrooms first. Beautiful and modern kitchen and bathrooms will attract high quality tenants. Replace outdated kitchen appliances with modern, stainless steel alternatives. Upgrade dated bathroom tiles, toilets, and showers with sleek and modern options. By upgrading the bathrooms and kitchen, the monthly rent of your rental property will highly increase. Furthermore,  undergoing a kitchen renovation can also solve many mechanical issues and lower maintenance requests, as many old appliances tend to falter and fail. 

3. Replace Dated Light Fixtures

Replace outdated light fixtures with modern, elegant alternatives that will appeal to potential rental tenants. This inexpensive fix can immediately improve the ambiance of any room, and impress potential tenants. Modern chandeliers will give small apartments a boost in appeal and style. Other examples of fixtures that need replacing are:

• Door handles that stick
• Mini-binds with missing slats
• Faucets or tubs that drip 
• Cabinet hardware that has lost it's finish

4. Maintain Landscaping 

The exterior of your rental property provides potential tenants with their first impression of your property. Ensure the exterior of your property is always properly maintained and cared for.

Always mow the grass before potential showings. If you have flowerbeds and bushes, spread fresh mulch down to give the exterior a healthy glow. Finally, ensure your property is safe and secured by checking all gate hinges, removing any broken concrete from sidewalks, and confirm the pathways are sturdy.

5. Increase Storage Room

Storage is an overlooked yet highly important priority for renters. Property managers can boost the value of their property by increasing storage options. Some simple ways to increase storage include adding hooks to main areas like entryways and bathrooms, installing closet organizing systems, and adding additional shelving in pantries. More elaborate storage upgrades include installing permanent shelving in the garage, creating built-in shelves, framing in a new closet, and adding a shed on the property.