Getting tenants to rent your rental property is like selling a product—you have to make it presentable so that consumers will see its full potential. In the real estate industry, this is called property staging, and it is essential to attracting tenants to your online listing. To help you out, we have listed a few rental property staging tips that can help you reach your goal of attracting more tenants.
1. Deep Clean and Declutter
Staging rental properties can be much harder when there are a lot of unnecessary objects lying around. Declutter the space, and it will help you get a clearer field for thorough cleaning. Clutter can be considered as:
- Personal items like family photos
- Unnecessary furniture
- Excessive Decorations
For deep cleaning, it might be better to hire a professional cleaning service, as they will have the appropriate tools. If not, be sure to clean the entire property, including appliances, fixtures, furniture, and unreachable surfaces. When you host open houses for potential tenants, pay attention to cobwebs and lingering odors.
2. Fix Damages or Wear Caused by Previous Tenants
Even if you have reliable tenants, normal wear and tear is expected. Correct imperfections like holes from wall decor, scratches on the floor from moving furniture, or other property damage that could pose a risk to future tenants.
3. Focus on Key Areas
There are four key areas in a home: the bedroom(s), the bathroom(s), the living room, and the kitchen. Each area has different home-staging needs that potential tenants will pay attention to.
Bedroom
The bedroom should appear comfortable and relaxing as it is a place of rest. Use neutral colors and try to maximize natural light by opening the windows when you take photos. Style the bed by adding a few throw pillows and an area rug, or consider adding a headboard to make it look more luxurious.
Bathroom
Adding a few wall decor items won't hurt, but adding too much will make it seem like a personal space. There shouldn't be any personal toiletries in sight, but you should add accessories like towels, candles, soap dispensers, or decorative bowls with potpourri to add a bit of sophistication, which can help attract quality tenants.
Kitchen
Just as you would with other rooms, declutter and put utensils and tools back in their respective storage. Organize the appliances, drawers, and pantry neatly. If needed, repaint the walls and cabinets for a more modernized look. If you have stainless steel appliances, make sure they are spotless.
Living Room
The living room should look like an inviting space for prospective tenants. It's among the simplest rooms to set up in staging rental properties. Just make sure there's natural light for virtual staging, as well as throw pillows to make it look cozy. Place decorative bowls on the coffee table if there is existing furniture.
4. Improve Curb Appeal
Whether it's an open house or virtual tours, the exterior of your property sets the tone for potential renters. Home-staging rental properties isn't just about focusing on interior design.
Clean Pathways
Clean walkways by washing away dirt and grime using a power washer. While most property owners don't have such equipment, a professional staging company or professional cleaner will. You can also purchase your own for future maintenance purposes for your rental.
Plant Fresh Flowers
Plant colorful flowers, plants, and trees to make the exterior more aesthetically pleasing. Prospective renters will appreciate a rental unit with a well-maintained lawn. You can hire a gardener to trim the hedges and bushes to make them appear more presentable.
Repaint
If there are visible spots of wear and fading paint, you should try applying a fresh coat to the walls and the front door to attract renters. This is one of the most inexpensive ways to stage a rental home, but it has a huge impact on its appearance.
Add Outdoor Lighting
One of the most important home staging tips is to maximize lighting, and that goes for the exterior as well. By setting up all the lights you can, you can better showcase your rental staging efforts.
5. Hire a Professional Stager
Believe it or not, there are professionals who specialize in bringing out your property's potential. You can hire one from the Real Estate Staging Association. Nothing's wrong with spending a little extra to stage a rental property, especially with today's competitive rental market.
With the knowledge to conduct strategic staging, they can pay attention to aspects like choosing the right furniture style and window coverings and essentially highlight the best features of your property. Tenants who appreciate a home's aesthetics will certainly appreciate this.
6. Hire a Professional Photographer
Staging a rental property is only one stage in marketing it. To ensure that you exhibit it in the best possible way, you should hire a professional photographer. They will know the best angles to shoot spaces in, highlight the best aspects, and set up the appropriate lighting.
Benefits of Staging Your Rental Property
- Finding Quality Renters: In a competitive market, potential tenants will prefer to rent properties that appear presentable and move-in ready when they search online.
- Higher Rental Income: Staging a rental property lets you find tenants faster, which means you get more rental income.
- Increase Property Value: Some of your rent-staging efforts involve long-term improvements, such as a fresh coat of paint or home improvements, which can help increase the value of your property.
Hiring Property Management to Keep the Ball Rolling
Staying ahead of comparable properties is not a one-time endeavor. To maximize your financial investment, you must be diligent about property management. While you can do this on your own, hiring a property manager will speed up the rental process and maintain the momentum of your property's success.
Austin Property Management can provide the needed services to ensure your rental property's profitability, such as marketing, tenant screening, maintenance, accounting, and more.
Leave landlord stress behind and let us take the lead. You can schedule a free consultation to learn more about our services!
