Prepare your apartment for renting out!

Kayla Gulec Kayla Gulec
Bougie déco de Noël Pomme de pin moyen modèle, Bougies la Française Bougies la Française 房子
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Finding your first apartment is an incredibly exciting milestone. Having your own space to do whatever you want is finally within your reach. You can decorate the way you want, host dinner parties for all of your friends – the possibilities are endless. So if you were a first-time apartment shopper, what would you look for in an apartment? How would you picture yourself in someone's old space? These are the things you need to be aware of when you're getting ready to rent out your apartment to those first- or second-time apartment renters out there. 

But as with many apartment matters, getting your apartment ready for renting can be overwhelming and stressful. That's why we here at homify have compiled a short list to help you get your apartment ready for renting. 

Depersonalise the space

First things first – before anyone can picture themselves in your apartment, they need a blank canvas, which is why you need to depersonalize your renting space as much as possible. Your apartment is by definition very personal. So this part can be quite difficult, but it’s worth it for the effect it’ll have on renting out your space. You need to get into the head of your potential renter. When looking for an apartment to make your new home, seeing less of someone else’s personal items will make it easier to picture living there. For that reason, it’s very important to depersonalize your home while it’s listed for sale.

Take this living room, for example. There are no family photos on the walls or tables, no knick-knacks lying around – no trace at all that someone had been living there before you entered the room. This is exactly what a renter is looking for. Best thing is, decluttering doesn't even require a lot of effort. Just pack your personal items away while showing and you're all set!

Use neutral coloured furniture

The best way to find a new tenant for your apartment is to be able to create a space for viewing that the tenant can picture themselves in. As we've mentioned, depersonalizing allows for just that, but what else can you do? Having neutral coloured furniture is in your apartment extremely important. That's not to say there's something wrong with a blue couch or a red chair, but brightly coloured furniture, especially mismatched furniture, is very hard to work with as a new renter coming into a new space. Imagine that were you – how are you going to match your home decoration style with a giant yellow sofa? Anything that's too bright or too bold can turn away a potential renter, so keeping it simple is the best way for someone else to imagine themselves, and their belongings, in your apartment. 

Clean it all up!

It may sound like a no brainer, but when considering renting your apartment, you want to make sure it's nice and clean for prospective tenants. There’s no substitute for a rigorous deep-cleaning and a fresh coat of paint when it comes to readying your rental. While modern upgrades may be optional, if you want to attract more potential renters, basic rental hygiene is a must.

Pay considerable attention to the kitchen. Since it's the room you spend the most time in, and the room you cook in, if this isn't clean, you're chances of renting will plummet. No one wants to walk into an apartment and see filth, especially in the room they intend on eating in.

 Moreover, it’s essential to make sure that the lawn and garden surrounding your rental is neat and tidy before you post that “for rent” sign. 

Repair any dents/scratches

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When your home is empty, thoroughly inspect it and look for anything that needs repairing. Repairing any dents or scratches that you may have on furniture and walls, especially if you have white or light coloured walls, will really boost your chances of finding a happy new tenant. If you imagine yourself as the tenant, you'll figure out straight away that imperfections in the walls or furniture only adds to the minus column on their checklist. It's not necessarily a deal breaker, but it certainly won't help you to have anything that will add to that column.

Scratches are incredibly noticeable on light coloured walls, so you want to make sure you repair any slight chips in the paint. You could simply apply a fresh coat of paint for the walls, but if you have major damage to your bed or sofa, consider a repair service.

Replace/fix broken devices

Renting an apartment can be pricey in and of itself, so no renter is going to want to move into a space that has any broken appliances.

If your refrigerator is wonky, get a repairman to fix it. This will be much more cost effective than buying a new fridge just for renting. But if your microwave is faulty, just go ahead and buy a new one. It's cheap enough, and your new tenant will really appreciate it. 

And what's more, if you are providing appliances, ensure they’re clean inside and out. Keep in mind, renting an apartment that's furnished with appliances may allow you to boost the rental price, so you can make some of that money back that you spent preparing the apartment in the first place.

Add a few small accessories

Last but not least, think about adding a homey feel to your space that welcomes all guests who are viewing your apartment. You could place little accessories here and there to accent small areas, such as coloured bowls with decorative items in them, or better yet, candles.

Candles are so incredibly helpful when creating the right atmosphere for your guests, it really can't be overlooked. When your prospective tenant walks into your apartment, the first thing you want is for them to feel welcome. Nothing does a better job than a scented candle.

Your candle choice should depend on the season. If you're thinking of renting out in the winter, try some winter themed candle scents. Nothing says welcome quite like walking into an apartment that smells of apple, cinnamon, and that holiday spirit.

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