If you’re trying to rent out a property, a good viewing can make all the difference, but when prospective tenants view multiple properties in a single day, how can you make yours stand out from the crowd? Here are 6 tips to place your rental a cut above the rest.
Cover the basics
There are a few basics you must deal with before anybody steps through the front door for a viewing. At the very least the property must be clean, tidy and secure, so consider getting carpets professionally cleaned, replace broken light bulbs, repair that wobbly door handle and make sure all the locks are working and have keys. Tenants will be much happier if they can view a property and imagine moving in tomorrow, rather than when you’ve finally gotten around to making all those little repairs.
Ask a friend
You’ve probably poured time and money into making sure your property is just right, but we all know that it can be very difficult to assess your own work objectively. This is where a friend comes in – ask them to walk around and point out the things that need improving, and the things they think will be most interesting to prospective tenants. Their second opinion will show you what still needs to be fixed, and which special features your property has that you can highlight in viewings.
Set the scene
Once you have the basics covered, there’s no harm in going a little above and beyond. Ask whoever is conducting the viewing to arrive a little early and open up curtains and windows to let in some natural light and fresh air. If the property is currently being lived in, ensure that it is tidy and that clutter is put away; if it is empty, make it that bit more welcoming by putting out a bunch of flowers in a vase, or one or two fragrance diffusers.
Smarten the outside
Prospective tenants will judge your property before they even step through the front door, and all your hard work will be wasted if they’re immediately put off by a peeling front door or overgrown garden. Keep front lawns and hedges trim and tidy, clear any rubbish from the garden path, and repaint walls, window frames and the front door if needed. Making your house presentable on the outside is a surefire way to make a great first impression.
Accentuate the positives
What makes your property special? What do you have that others don’t? Whether it’s something significant like a hot tub or a spacious back garden, or something as seemingly small as a dishwasher, built-in wine rack or American-style fridge freezer, pointing these things out during a viewing can give prospective tenants a more favourable impression of your property, and help them to picture themselves living there. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!
Go for green
Loads of us love to be eco-conscious, and if your property has energy-saving features then don’t shy away from promoting them. You don’t have to have a bank of solar panels on the roof (although that could help!), but letting tenants know about your property’s good EPC rating, or explaining how the new insulation you’ve installed could lower their energy bills, are all positives that could just tip the balance in your favour.
Whatever your rental property, it only takes a few small touches and some sales savvy to make it stand out!
Interested in letting out a property in Bristol? Contact Gough Quarters today to find out more.
Image sources:
Brighton Beach Shack by syauqee mohamad on Flickr, under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License
Bright colours, spring blossoms by designmilk on Flickr, under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License
Back Garden by Peter Stevens on Flickr, under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License
