Renter Resources   DIY   , Landlords  

Ideas to Get Your Apartment "Rent-Ready"

You may have decided to rent your apartment, but this doesn’t mean that you should put it on the market immediately, especially if you want your future tenants to be fully satisfied and ready to pay good money for it. So, instead of rushing things, take your time to prepare and improve your apartment as much as possible. If you need some help with this, take a look at the following list of ideas on how to get your apartment “rent-ready” in no time.

Add a fresh coat of paint

When renting an apartment, you need to put yourself in the position of your future tenants and consider what they will pay attention to the most. For example, if your walls look run-down and shabby, that will most likely tell them that you don’t take care of the unit. So, instead of letting this put off serious renters, don’t hesitate to add a fresh coat of paint to your walls and thus make them look more modern and fresh. Moreover, it’s wiser to opt for more neutral shades like light grey and beige here since not all people appreciate bold choices and vivid colors like orange or bright yellow. Of course, you can always use bright accessories or paint an accent wall in order to add that finishing touch to the design and break the monotony.

Invest in modular furniture

The next step would definitely be investing in modular furniture. This is important since you should allow your new tenants to adjust the space to their lifestyle and taste. So, instead of hanging shelves that can’t be removed, you can go for a smaller dresser or vintage wicker baskets that can be moved around the room easily. Additionally, think about selecting multipurpose furniture pieces like an armchair that has a hidden storage space inside of it or a futon that can be used both for sleeping and seating the guests.

Upgrade your kitchen

Aside from focusing on the living room, your future tenants would definitely like to see whether your kitchen is in good shape as well. With this in mind, think about all the things that you can improve and find ways to upgrade it. For instance, you can start by switching your old refrigerator for a quality brand one such as the amazing Bosch 800 refrigerator. Such appliances have been shown to be more durable and usually come with a long warranty. To be on the safe side, you can also purchase a home warranty to cover normal wear and tear on common appliances and systems. Check out reviews on House Method to get more details. On top of that, new state-of-the-art refrigerators come in different designs so you’ll easily manage to find the one that will fit your kitchen perfectly. Additionally, remember to check all the light fixtures here as well since there is nothing worse than having to prepare food in a poorly-lit room. We would recommend opting for LEDs since they are cost-effective and can save your tenants a lot on their electricity bills.

Clean the unit properly

Bringing your tenants in to see a messy apartment is a big no-no, so make sure to professionally clean the entire interior. Apart from regular chores like dusting, window-washing and cleaning the floors, which you can perform on your own, you need to pay attention to every nook of the apartment and nobody can do this better than professional cleaners. They should particularly focus on the tiles in the kitchen and bathroom since these are often neglected and can spoil the inviting feel that you’re trying to achieve. Lastly, remember to declutter all the rooms and bring out all the items that previous tenants have left behind since this mess can make your unit look small and overcrowded.

Have your property inspected

Last but not least, depending on where you live, you may have to abide by certain laws which state that the unit has to be inspected before the new tenants can move in. You should take this matter seriously unless you want to risk paying huge fines and endangering the safety of the renters. However, if you find all of this too overwhelming, don’t shy away from contacting legal help. After all, an experienced property lawyer will brief you on everything you need to know and ensure that you don’t get into any troubles with the law. As you can see, preparing an apartment for lease is a serious job and requires a lot of effort. However, it’s better to invest some time and money now than to end up renting your unit for a significantly lower price and having to deal with discontented leasers. Good luck!