Getting your property ready to rent fast
If you own a rental property, the last thing you want is for it to sit empty for any length of time. You still have to pay the rates and the standing charges for services like water, landline and electricity, as well as the insurance premiums.
Therefore, every week that your rental property sits empty it is haemorrhaging money. This means that when one tenant leaves you want to be able to replace them with new ones, as quickly as possible.
A full inspection
The first step is to go in and find out what needs doing. Naturally, your agent will carry out an inspection when the previous tenants are due to leave to establish whether they will get their deposit back or not. This will give you some idea of the state your property has been left in, and enable you to establish what needs to be done to get it ready for the next client.
A deep clean
You need to go through the property, and work out what needs painting or decorating and what can be left as it is. Any walls, floors or carpets you plan not to upgrade or change should be cleaned. This will make your property look better, and, therefore, make it easier to rent out for a good price.
A lick of paint
Once everything has been cleaned down, you can go around with a paintbrush and touch up any surface that still looks shoddy. A home with a crisp clean finish will rent faster, and you will usually be able to secure a better rent.
It really is worth spending a few extra hundred pounds bringing the standard of the decor up to scratch. You can read more about the benefits of repainting and decorating your property between tenants here.
Upgrade the facilities
While the house is empty, you should also take the chance to upgrade some of the fixtures and fittings. If your property is looking dated, now is the time to turn that around and consider installing things like a new bathroom or kitchen. The more competitive your market is, the more you need to invest in making your property as modern as possible.
Using the right agent
That brings us to our last recommendation, which is that you hire a good agent. They will be able to give you advice about the changes you could make, so that your property will appeal more to local renters.
For example, they will know if there is rising demand for four or five-bedroom houses in the area. If there is a market for this sort of house, you may want to consider converting the garage to an extra bedroom, or having a loft conversion done.
Good letting agents in York, or any other city, will help you to add value to your rental property, and maximise your profits. They will also market it effectively. Most of the best agents also offer a full property management service.
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