RCN Capital Blog

Landlord Tip: How to Get Your Property Summer Renter Ready

Written by RCN Capital | Aug 18, 2017 4:00:00 AM
The summer months are one of the most active times of the year for the real estate industry.  This is a time when college graduates move to new cities following jobs, and families feel more secure looking for a new home now that their kids are out of school for the summer. If you are a real estate investor and a landlord, then this makes the perfect time to do everything you can to prepare your rental properties for new tenants. The first impression your property makes is what’s going to help it stand out from the other rentals they have looked at. And it’s important for your rental home to exude that they will have a landlord who cares about the property and who maintains it suitably. For the purpose of this blog, we are going to focus on how to prepare the exterior of the home to attract potential tenants. The interior is important as well, but since the weather is warmer, let’s focus on the yard work that needs to be done. Gardens, Grass, & Gnomes Many renters, especially families will be looking for a place outside to enjoy the warmer months, as spending time with their kids who are off from school is at the forefront of their minds. By adding in a patio space and small gardens areas with manageable plants and garden decor, not only are you adding ascetic and an outdoor living area, but you are also cutting back on the size of the lawn that will have to be maintained (by either the landlord or the tenants). Clean, Repair & Update After previous tenants move out, or after purchasing a new rental property, it’s key to take care of any repairs needed, and check to see if any fixtures can be updated. This can include sealing cracks in the driveway and walkways, updating the mailbox, touching up chipped or faded paint and updating the light fixtures on the front of the home. Overall, the summer months may be the busiest time of the year for the real estate market, but it’s also one of the few times you can really highlight the exterior of your home to attract potential tenants.  Even the simplest of patio spaces and gardens can add a whole new look to the property and with decorative ornaments can attract all kinds of tenants and ensure they feel at home. For more information on the importance of curb appeal check out our past blog post, 3 Tips to Attract More Buyers to Your Flip with Curb Appeal, as it can also apply for rental properties.