Are you considering rent out your property? If you are, good for you as it is generally considered one of the best investments to make. That said, it also requires hard work, and simply putting the property up for rent isn’t going to cut it. You’ll also need to consider how to keep your tenant satisfied, whilst also ensuring the property is left in good condition. That said; the following useful tips will help.
- Outsource the property’s photography
The first thing any prospective tenant sees are photos of the house. Therefore, the appearance of the home in pictures is more important than you might think. Yes, competitive rents and great communication are all important, but the photos of the house that hit the internet are just as crucial.
So, unless you’re a professional photographer, don’t try to take the images yourself. This is because while it is the cheaper option, it could lose you money in the long run. So, get a professional to take photos of your home and let that be the hook that brings your renters in.
- Ensure the house is occupied at all times
Empty rental homes are money sinkholes as they cost you funds to keep in shape while generating zilch. Therefore, having occupants is very necessary, especially if you want to rent out homes rather than sell the property. Using a professional photographer is one way to go about it; another is to get a professional property management firm that specializes in keeping tenants happy while keeping an eye out for new ones. Also, if you find a great tenant, seek to hold on to them as this is easier than looking for new ones.
- Keep the rent fair (to you)
Most landlords are reasonable people who want their tenants to enjoy the homes they live in. However, the flip side of this is that some might price their homes way above the fair market price. Now, this is an understandable tactic if you had initially wondered how to maximise your investment property’s returns, and decided that charging a high rent was the only way. However, if other properties within the vicinity of your home were significantly lower-priced, your property will risk being empty for long,
Likewise, charging too low is just as problematic. Although it is excellent news for your tenants, it’s not the same for you. Consider for a moment all the costs you will incur from insurance to taxes and ask yourself if you are currently renting your home at a fair rate. That said, there are simple ways to increase the rent fairly without stressing out your tenants.
- Perform maintenance regularly
Reactive maintenance will always be a bad idea as it will cost you more money in the long run. So, don’t wait for there to be complaints before performing maintenance as it could disrupt your daily routine, especially if you have a day job. A great way to do this is to create a maintenance schedule. Not only does this cost you less money, but it gives you peace of mind and even raises the property’s value if it isn’t being lived in.
With these points, you should be ready to purchase some investment property and start maximizing your returns.
