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You need to present your home so that it will appeal to the widest possible renting sector of the public. It needs to be inviting. Ensure they can imagine themselves living there as soon as they walk in.
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Clear the clutter! Mess all too easily becomes familiar junk which we are used to having around. It makes rooms look smaller and sends misleading messages to your potential tenant. Tidy away family photos and books.
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Elbow grease can add more letting potential to your home than almost anything else. Clean, clean and clean some more. The kitchen and bathroom are the two most important rooms, but don’t stop there. Dust every surface, ornament and lampshade you possess.
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Make sure all entrances are uncluttered, warm and welcoming. Make the path to your front door appealing with a well kept garden, this is known as ‘kerb appeal’. Make sure doors open properly and aren’t hampered by a row of coats or muddy boots.
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Potential tenants won’t be able to visualise themselves living in your home if the walls are brightly patterned or garishly painted. Redecorate in neutral shades and add splashes of colour with rugs, cushions and flowers. You can make a world of difference to a dark entrance hall with a strategically placed mirror positioned at eye level, it will maximise the available light.
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Do all those little jobs around the house that you have always meant to finish. If you are not a D.I.Y. type, get a professional in. Broken window catches, a front door bell that doesn’t work or half finished shelves convey an air of neglect and a signal to a potential tenant that there may be other more significant aspects of the house that has been left undone.
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Ensure that every room has a clear function and purpose. Play up the existence of a dining room by clearing away all the children’s homework and games. A third bedroom could be a bedroom, study or a dressing room, but not all three at once. Organise some storage systems so that the principal function of the room they’re in remains clearly defined.
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A carpet that is dark or heavily patterned dominates a room and makes it seem smaller. Replace carpets that are old or worn. This may seem an unnecessary expense, but it will lift the appearance of the room immeasurably.
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Be ruthless when it comes to dealing with your pets. It’s easy to get used to their smell — so ask a friend to be brutally honest with you. Does your house smell? Before each viewing eliminate unpleasant smells and banish pets to a willing friend’s house while you are showing people around. Get rid of pet hair too — brush and vacuum until you’re sure it’s clean.
