Rental Decorating Tips

Rental Decorating Tips

9:44 AM, 11th April 2012, About 12 years ago

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Know your market. Are you targeting students, couples, professional singles, holiday or executive renters? What level of return are you anticipating? Each of these markets will require a slightly different approach to the way in which you decorate your property.

Neutral colours are still the norm for stylish rental properties and a polypropylene carpet which is bleach cleanable on underlay is also a good idea. It’s always best to consider putting a better quality carpet down, although there are some ok looking, cheap, felt back carpets at around £4/ sq metre- they really won’t last or look as good for as long as a better quality one. Light colour carpets can also be off putting as tenants will worry about marks so consider wood flooring or even a vinyl in some areas.

Ensure that there is adequate and efficient lighting throughout, including communal areas and near the front door.

If you are renting as furnished, make sure all the furniture is tidy and matches. As much as some of the fashionable mismatched chairs and sofas look great in a home setting, they look wrong in a rented property. Don’t overdo the furniture, but also make sure you have enough to warrant calling it a “furnished” property.

It is helpful to add pictures. If it is a longer term rental, pictures on hooks which allow your tenants to replace them temporarily with their own pictures is a good idea. Shorter term rentals can have tasteful neutral images screw fixed to the walls.

Living plants are a no for rental properties. Even plants on balconies will require some attention.
White goods should match in the kitchen; replacing a washing machine in white when all other appliances are silver looks messy.

Again, depending on your market you may want to include small electrical appliances or a full kitchen package. Certainly make sure your PAT testing is up to date.

A professional clean throughout is always appealing to viewers and gives a prospective tenant an overall good first impression.


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