For many people renting their house is a much needed source of income so I have decided to dedicate this blog to offering advice on how you can get your house or apartment ready for tenants in a cost effective manner.

 

I am often asked if it is worthwhile painting your house when you are going to rent it or if this is simply money down the drain. With a competitive market at the moment it is important to utilise simple ideas to ensure it appeals to a wide range of people and of course, equate to higher monthly rent for your pocket.

 

I always recommend that the first step in preparing a house for renting is to de-clutter. If you don't need an item, why not donate it to charity or simply throw it away to make more space. Clear everything off the kitchen counters and cupboards to create clean lines throughout. If necessary, hire a storage unit and pack up all of your personal belonging or large pieces of furniture that fail to serve a purpose in the room until your return.

 

When decorating your rooms, bold colours aren’t really an option as they can sometimes feel intrusive and overpowering. Use shades from a neutral palette that will not offend anyone’s taste or preferences. Remember, neutral doesn’t have to mean boring! Young professionals want a place that offers them a sanctuary after a hard days work, but that is on trend and good for entertaining.

 

It may not be feasible to paint all of the rooms in your house so a strategic approach is always best. Survey the main rooms and decide which ones would benefit the most from a lick of paint. Small or dark rooms will benefit hugely from a new coat of paint especially one with a sheen finish to reflect the available light. Crown’s Mid Sheen Emulsion in neutral tones such as Apple Mist, Liqueur and Pale Gold will work well to introduce a gentle sparkle to the room.

 

Large rooms with superior features are also great candidates for redecorating. You should make the most of it to ensure the room stands out to potential tenants. No matter what the features are, tenants will be looking for light and comfortable surroundings that they can call house. Crown’s Ultimate range is a great resource for beautiful colours that will appeal to a wide market, colours to consider include Blue Mid, Taupe Dark and Berry Mid.

 

White can be a great colour to work with as it will make your house feel fresh and crisp. Crown Paints Sail White, Cream White or Beige White are examples of warm shades of white that won’t leave the room feeling stark but will achieve that desired clean palette. Pure Brilliant White should be used on ceilings, window ledges and skirting to lift and complete any room.

 

You should remove any expensive items from your house so you won’t have to worry about them getting damaged. Replace with cheaper, hardwearing furniture so you won’t have to fork out for replacements every few months. De-personalise the space by removing photos, awards or personal items to allow potential tenants to imagine their belongings in the house.

 

We all know how important a first impression is so painting your front door is a worthwhile investment. Sandtex has a great range of exterior products including gloss paints specially formulated for wooden doors. If there has been no change made to your doors and windows since you moved in, why not choose a colour that truly pops like Pillar Box Red or Park Bench Green. This is an effective way that will allow your house to really stand out from others in a cost effective manner.

 

When your house is due to be viewed, make sure it is aired well and that any clutter or washing up has been cleared away and that the bed linen is clean. If you are going to be away travelling or don’t want to worry about any tenant issues, you might want to consider using an agent who will watch over the property for you while you are gone. You will pay extra, but it will mean you have nothing to worry about except for enjoying yourself.

 

Happy Decorating and best of luck with renting your house!

Neville