Although the private rental market might be performing better than ever, with the average property taking just 20 days to let out, it’s always a good idea to keep on top of your properties’ kerb appeal to maximise their appeal to potential tenants. Maintain your outside spaces, keep your buy-to-lets looking as attractive as possible, and you’ll never struggle to fill them, or even sell them should you ever decide to liquidate your property portfolio.
Below, we’ve put together some simple and cost-effective ways to boost kerb appeal…
Though you don’t need to hire a gardener to maintain your outdoor spaces, there are lots of ways that you can make the front and rear gardens look more appealing. As the COVID-19 pandemic has proven, tenants are increasingly looking for places where they can unwind and let off steam with their loves ones, so keep the lawn cut, plant shrubs, and avoid paving it all over. You can transform an outdoor space with a little imagination and a £100 budget.
Another way that you can make your property look more appealing from the outside is to focus on security. We’re not saying that you need to invest in CCTV cameras or expensive new gates and fences, but you can make some simple tweaks that can make a difference. Look at the lighting, invest in a house alarm, and add locks. Other features that can prove to your tenants that you care about their safety include netting over ponds, padlocks on each side of the property, and latches on entranceways and gates. The safer it looks, the better!
Lighting is another way to give your rental property an edge, especially if you’re targeting families with children. Illuminating your outdoor spaces with paving lights and a footlight can offer potential tenants peace of mind. Although most viewings will take place during daylight hours, many potential tenants and buyers will return to view the exterior of the property and the neighbourhood on an evening, so putting in a little extra effort could pay dividends.
The front door is one of the most important elements of any rental property, so spend some time getting yours right. The front door of a property is symbolic - it’s the entrance into the home and is the first point of contact potential tenants will make at a viewing. It’s best to stick with the classics and opt for a colour such as black, brown, or grey - if you go for a colour too whacky like lime green, you could put off tenants looking for something more traditional.
Another way to improve the appearance of your rental property is to give your gates, fences, and hedging some TLC. The way your property’s boundaries are marked can have a serious impact on aesthetics; trim those hedges, give fences a lick of paint, and you’ll soon create an outdoor space that looks and feels ready for a family to move into. It’ll look better in photos, and, depending on demand, an investment could allow you to command more per month.
Do you have any other tips for increasing the kerb appeal of your rental property? Let us know and check back to the Billing Better blog soon for more tips and tricks, right here.
