Landlord Advice – Staging a Rental Property
Rent a House or Apartment Faster by Enhancing its Curb Appeal
Nov 12, 2009
Walking into a bare and empty rental property for the first time, many renters find it hard to imagine themselves living in those empty rooms. Smart landlords use a few inexpensive touches to make an unoccupied unit look more cozy and homelike, so tenants can feel that this rental really could be their next home. These landlord tips for staging a rental property were gathered from contributors to the Mr. Landlord online forum.
Staging a Rental Property Starts Outdoors
The competition for a potential renter’s interest starts in whatever areas the renter sees as he or she arrives at the unit. Some prospects will even drive by the house or apartment to see if it’s worth making an appointment to view the inside. The unit’s curb appeal – or lack of it – can make the difference between getting it rented or having it sit empty.
- Landscaping. Make sure the parking area and yard are clean and well maintained. Grass should be cut, bushes neatly trimmed, leaves raked away, snow shoveled, and litter picked up. Clear out any items left behind by the previous tenants under porches, inside the garage, or in storage sheds.
- Front walk and front door. As the season permits, a few bright flowering plants in attractive pots or a wreath hung on the front door can make the unit look welcoming as renters arrive. Outdoor lights and doorbell should be in good working order.
- Paint. Fresh paint is the cheapest way to give new life to a unit that looks tired or dated. If it’s not possible to repaint the whole building, consider painting the front door and any trim visible from the front.
Clean and Cozy Touches for Staging the Inside of a Rental Unit
The vital first step in staging a property is to have the inside spotless, with fresh paint in any rooms that need it, clean carpets, and any dings and nail holes in walls patched and touched up with paint. Use an air freshener spray to make the house smell good when visitors walk in the door. Then stock the unit with small touches that make it feel homelike:
- Entrance. A door mat inside the front door welcomes visitors and helps protect rugs or hardwood floors from dirt tracked in from the outside. Put fresh flowers or a blooming plant in a spot visible from the entrance, or substitute a seasonal decoration such as a small, non-religious Christmas tree or pumpkins in the fall. Candles in decorative holders look nice, although these may be undesirable if the lease doesn't allow tenants to burn candles in the rental.
- Windows. Install inexpensive mini-blinds on every window. These are available at home supply stores for a surprisingly low price – often less than $10 U.S. Some landlords also add a neutral valance over the mini-blinds or hang inexpensive white sheers at each window. This touch not only makes the windows look more finished and shows renters that the landlord cares about protecting their privacy, it also reduces the chances that tenants will nail up sheets or garbage bags as shades after move-in.
- Kitchen. Hang up a couple of colorful dish towels and a matching pair of potholders. Put liquid hand soap by the sink. If the kitchen has a bar area, consider creating a table setting with plates and cloth napkins and a wine glass or coffee mug. Put paper towels in the towel dispenser and consider having bottled water in the refrigerator during hot weather. Landlords may be able to find attractive framed pictures at the dollar store. Put a new broom and toilet plunger in the closet to leave for the tenant who eventually moves in. A small table and a couple of chairs can come in handy for filling out applications and displaying property flyers. Dress up the table with a colorful table cloth.
- Bathroom. Decorate the bathroom with a matching throw rug and bath towels. Install a new shower curtain. If the bathroom is very small, use a clear shower curtain to avoid making the space look even smaller. Provide hand soap and toilet paper. Some landlords even supply a new soap dish and toothbrush holder.
- Bedrooms. Put a vase of silk flowers or a silk tree in the corner.
Give New Tenants a Welcome Package
The items used to stage the rental property can be left behind as a welcome gift for new tenants. Other items that might go in a tenant welcome basket include:
- Broom
- Toilet brush
- Plunger
- Zip-it tool for clearing hair from drains
- Energy-efficient lightbulbs
- Cutting board
- All-purpose kitchen and bathroom cleaner
- Gift certificate to local pizza restaurant or grocery store.
It doesn't take a lot of extra effort for a landlord to make a vacant unit look like a place renters want to call home. Staging the property could provide the extra competitive edge that gets the lease signed even in the most competitive rental market.
Related articles include:
- How to set minimum requirements for potential tenants- Avoid mistakes in tenant screening by making a written list of the income, credit record, employment and other requirements applicants must meet to qualify for a rental.
- How to screen rental applicants over the phone - Asking the right questions during a prospective tenant's initial phone call can save landlords a great deal of time by screening out unqualified applicants right away.
- Screening renters with pets - Accepting pets can greatly increase the tenant pool for a rental property, but the wrong pet can cause thousands in damage. Learn how to include pets in renter screening.
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