Things To Do Before Putting Your House On Rent

Whether you’re a landlord and renting houses/ apartments is your business, or whether you just want to rent your house for a couple of months/ years, there are some things you would need to do and keep in mind before you open the doors for viewings and before your new tenants move in. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered: here’s a handy checklist to make the process as quick and easy as possible for you.

1. Deep Clean The House

Just a hoover around the place will not suffice for when you need to let your property. It needs to be spanking clean for a number of reasons. Firstly, a deep clean or a professional clean looks very different to a routine day-to-day clean and the house will look as close to new as possible! Which in itself will be a plus point for potential tenants. Secondly, it is hygienic to do so – after all, you – or your previous tenants – have lived in the house. And lastly, a deep clean ensures you catch ALL the dust/ cobwebs behind the radiators/ scribbles-on-the-wall etc.

You can either get a professional cleaner to do the job, or if you have the time and 

can do it yourself, then you will need certain tools and machinery such as floor scrubbers to assist you.

2. Furnished Or Unfurnished?

This is something you will have to decide before putting your property on rent – would you like to let it out furnished or without any furniture or appliances. 

There is no right or wrong answer here; though both options have their pros and cons. Some people prefer an unfurnished house so that they can bring in their own belongings or decorate it according to their own taste, while others prefer moving into a completely furnished property so there is no hassle of buying things and appliances later on. 

Irrespective of what you choose, make sure you remove all personal belongings and valuable items. 

3. The Little Things…

Little things such as the colour of the walls make a big difference during property viewings. You can’t cater to every taste, so it’s best to go with neutral colours rather than a bright red wall or a psychedelic wallpaper. The tenants can always add colour through paintings and furniture, according to their taste.

While you spruce up the interior of the house, don’t completely disregard the exterior as that, in fact, will be the first impression of the house. Spruce up the front garden, mow the front lawn, give the exterior a splash of paint if it’s looking too old or dull, make sure the drive-way is clean… all these points will help secure a tenancy agreement quicker. 

4. Extra Keys And Emergency Instructions

Make sure you have extra sets of keys ready for the new tenants to use. There might be different keys for the windows or the backyard door, so keep all this in mind. 

Also, don’t forget to give them all the instructions and manuals for the boiler/ electric metre and other appliances.