When you’re renting out a property, you want to draw in the best tenants possible. But tenants who pay the rent on time, look after the space they live in, and stick to rental agreements, also look for good quality property with reliable landlords. You’ll want to put the work in to attract the right tenants and to keep things going smoothly once they’ve moved in. 

The following steps should help you to make your rental property as appealing as possible to good quality tenants.

1. Safety

If you haven’t yet secured a property to rent out and are still browsing the market, make sure to choose a property in a safe neighborhood. Tenants want to know that the place they are renting is in a location where they can feel safe themselves and feel comfortable inviting others over. 

If you already have a great property, make sure to take steps to show tenants you care about their safety. Upgrades such as replacing locks or adding fences around the property can help tenants to feel secure. 

2. Curb Appeal

First impressions count, and that applies when tenants are taking a look at a new place as well. In order to make sure prospective tenants love the place right off the bat, you’re going to want to make sure your property is appealing when tenants turn up to view it. 

Little things like tidying up the yard, mowing the lawn, and trimming any bushes surrounding the property can help spruce up the outdoors. Also consider repainting the front door or fences. If anything is broken outside the property, it’s important to repair it before viewings begin.

3. Upgrade Appliances

With any appliances included in the property, it’s a good idea to upgrade these if possible. No one likes to move into a modern looking place and find that the ancient appliances can’t keep up with their needs. 

A quality water filtration system can make a big difference in providing consistently clean, filtered water, rather than musty pipes. If you’re not upgrading appliances, at least ensure they are in full working order and professionally cleaned.

4. Carry Out Regular Maintenance

There are a number of little fixes you may need to make sure to get done before viewings. This can include replacing broken, missing or drained light bulbs, unclogging any clogged drains and fixing leaky taps. 

Once your tenant moves in, make sure to show them they can rely on you for other fixes as well. You may decide to hire out a handyman to respond to emergency issues if you can’t get to them or don’t have the expertise yourself.

5. Deep Clean

Once all the fixes and upgrades are complete, make sure to deep clean the property. This includes the in-depth chores such as scrubbing baseboards, getting cobwebs out of the corners and steam cleaning or shampooing carpets and couches.

Once your property is spotless, this is the time to take high-quality pictures to post online. It might be worth it to invest in bringing in a professional photographer to take good shots. They can do a good job of making the spaces look big and bright online.

6. Decorate

Decorating can involve both big and little changes. If you have the option, definitely consider repainting. A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference to your property. 

Opt for neutral colors, as these will maximize your property’s appeal and make it versatile for any pictures that tenants may want to hang. Bright or bold color schemes or wallpaper prints may come across as fun, but may end up limiting your number of potential tenants.

7. Focus on Kitchens and Bathrooms

The majority of realtors will agree that kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a deal. If the living room is large and great for entertaining, but the kitchen features the original oven from the ‘70s, tenants may not want to have guests for dinner events. If these spaces need upgrading, make the investment. It will pay off in the long run.

Attracting quality tenants to your property, and making sure they want to stay, isn’t quite as easy as you might imagine. But the above seven steps are a great way to increase the appeal of your place and should help you to get started out on the right path!