Landlord Property Advice - Presenting Your Property

In our experience most prospective tenants will want to move into a property within 2-3 weeks of viewing.

Their decisions will be made on what they see during the viewing and few tenants will be impressed if they are asked to view around half completed repairs or paint pots and decorating tables! They are more likely to take a different property which is in good order.

We will happily meet with you at the property before it is offered to the market to discuss any necessary works but the following are just a few general tips, which we have found to be effective over the years.

Decoration

Unless being renovated it is unusual for every room in a property to need decorating but some redecoration, whilst not dramatically increasing the rental value is likely to help the property let more quickly, thus minimising expensive void periods. Plain emulsioned walls in neutral colours are usually best and can be more easily be refreshed between tenancies.

Floor coverings

Worn and threadbare carpets should be replaced! Clean and well fitted carpets give a better appearance. Laminate floors are not only very practical but give any property a modern and airy look although some flats have restrictions about floor coverings.

Cleanliness

This is especially important in the kitchen and bathroom. The oven should be clean as its state will be detailed on the inventory (we even have one Landlord that gives each new tenant an oven liner!) and all cupboards and drawers should be wiped through. Any mould should be removed in the bathroom/en-suite.

Repair

Whilst it is obviously important that major repairs are undertaken it is often the minor repairs that cause more problems once a tenancy starts as access for repair can be difficult and the cost of getting a tradesman to do these will be more expensive. If you have lived in a property you will know what these items are but whilst we cannot provide an exhaustive list, typical repairs can include ill fitting drawers, cupboards and wardrobes: loose door handles, switches and points: ill fitting curtain track and blinds: sticking doors and locks: batteries missing from smoke alarms. It is a nice touch not only to ensure all light bulbs are working but that a couple of packs of spares are left also.

If you are buying a property to let, or are re-letting one previously rented, we suggest you run all taps, switch on the heating, open and close all doors (internal as well as external) and windows and operate all appliances. We can find it is in the first 2-3 weeks of occupation that causes most difficulties as the tenants are not used to the property and will expect everything to be in good working order. They will not want to start taking time off work so workmen can gain access into the property.

Outside

The tenant will mow the grass and possibly tend the flowerbeds. Shrubs and trees will not be trimmed and these would best be cut back before any tenancy starts. Fences again are the landlords responsibility and should be sound at the start of a tenancy.

Other matters

We would recommend you put a post divert on when you leave. Whilst we try and get to the viewing appointment a few minutes before the prospective tenant this is not always possible and opening the door to a pile of post and papers can give the impression the property has been empty for a longer period.

Finally, we believe you get what you offer – the better presented a property the more likely it is to be looked after.