Staging your rentals is an important step in finding potential tenants.
If you don’t prioritize staging, tenants won’t be attracted to your property during showings, and you’ll have a harder time filling your unit.
Here are six dos and don’ts for staging rental properties:
DO: Make Repairs and Renovations
The first thing you should do when preparing your property for showings is to get it inspected and make sure everything is working and safe. Here’s a list of repairs you may need to make:
- Repair dents and cracks in the drywall
- Fix hinges on doors and cabinets
- Refresh insulation
- Replace batteries and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Fix or replace locks
- Ensure appliances are in working order
While making necessary repairs and deep cleaning rental properties should be your first priority, you may also want to consider making improvements and renovations to increase your rental appeal, which also means you can charge more for rent. Furthermore, renovations and improvements increase your property’s overall value when it is time to sell.
DON’T: Neglect Your Property’s Exterior
While it’s easy to automatically think about your property’s interior when considering staging, don’t forget about the exterior. Your property’s curb appeal gives prospective renters their first impression of your property.
Landscaping is step one. Stay on top of mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, mulching your flower gardens, trimming branches and shrubbery, and removing trash, debris, and leaves from your yard. You also may want to consider adding greenery and in-season flowers.
Also, be sure that your building exterior is in good shape. This includes power washing the driveway, walkways, and siding, adding a fresh layer of paint, and updating the front door.
DO: Choose Appropriate Furnishings
You want potential renters to know what each room’s purpose is when they walk in. A good way to accomplish this is by filling your unit with basic furnishings. For example, a desk in the home office space or a couch and coffee table in the living room help bring your unit to life by making the space feel like a real home.
Don’t go overboard with the furnishings. Keep it simple and choose a style that reflects the location and vibe of the property.
DON’T: Go Bold with Your Color Choices
When your property has been cleaned and updated, you should add a fresh layer of paint to your walls, doors, and trim.
When you repaint, stick to neutral and warm colors, which tend to be the most inviting for prospective renters. Painting all your walls a deep green, for example, would be off-putting for a lot of renters. The same goes for decorations. Keep your color choices neutral so that your unit appeals to the widest selection of people.
DO: Create Welcoming Lighting
An often-underappreciated aspect of rental appeal is lighting. Lighting is one of the most effective ways to make your property more inviting during showings.
The best approach with lighting is to maximize the natural light available to you. Take advantage of all the windows in your unit, and make sure the blinds are all open to allow as much sunlight in as possible.
Usually, your natural lighting will need a boost. It’s a good idea to layer your light sources instead of fully relying on overhead lighting, which can be harsh. Setting up lamps throughout your unit helps soften the ambiance.
DON’T: Over-personalize the space
Adding basic accessories to your unit, such as dishes, towels, books, and plants, helps make the space feel homey and comfortable. With that being said, you don’t want to over-accessorize to make the unit feel cluttered. You should let the potential renters fill out the space with their own imagination.
This also means keeping the decorations neutral. Avoid things like refrigerator magnets, pet supplies, children’s objects, religious or political decorations, and family photos. If you over-personalize your unit, potential renters may have trouble connecting with it.
Conclusion
If you follow these six dos and don’ts for staging rentals, you’ll be in good shape when potential renters come for showings. Knowing how to boost your rental appeal will help set your property apart from the competition.