In our previous post we discussed some of the first things you need to consider before decorating your properties, such as when is the best time, who you should hire and whether DIY is really a good idea. All of these decisions could help you save money in the long run, and another way to save some money is to decorate your properties in a way that will be appealing to potential tenants yet not cost the earth! Here are some tips and hints for when it comes to decorating your properties:
Colour Schemes
Most people think that choosing a colour scheme for a property is relatively simple: you pick plain, neutral colours that no-one could object to and makes all your properties look ‘standard’. However, do you really want to market your property as something that is just the same as everyone else’s? Neutral colours are a great idea as it means that the tenant can add their own touches to each room, however if you do it wrong it can make your properties look cold and unwelcoming.
However, neutral doesn’t have to mean boring – if you head to your local hardware store you will be bound to find a range of light colours that will give your home a personal feel whilst not putting anyone off. For instance, instead of white why not try warm cream or light beige for the living room and a delicate shade of green in the bathroom or kitchen? Just make sure you get some samples first and have a look at what you think will suit the house and the type of tenant you are planning on letting to!
Flooring
Just like choosing a colour scheme for your property, when it comes to flooring you don’t have to pick something plain and standard just because you are letting the property out. With flooring you will also have to think about how many rooms you have in each property and what type of flooring will be appropriate for each one. For example, carpet in the bathroom has not been popular since the 1970s, and most people these days would be extremely put off by it due to the fact it’s so unhygienic!
Kitchens, hallways and even living rooms often benefit from laminate flooring as they have the most foot traffic, and are all likely to have something dropped on them at one point or another! Laminate is extremely easy to clean and durable, and even though it may cost more to install and cover with landlord insurance it could potentially save you money in cleaning costs. You could also ask for a higher rent price with this type of flooring as it is extremely popular at the moment!
White Goods
Even if you are letting your properties unfurnished, you will still be expected as a landlord to provide white goods unless you specifically state this is not your intention in the advert for your properties. White goods are generally the most expensive items you will buy for your properties, and because of this many landlords often buy the cheapest models in order to save some cash. However, this could be a bad idea, especially when you consider the fact that some white goods such as fridges and washing machines are used on a daily basis, and therefore need to be reliable.
The good thing is that if you are not in a rush to buy your white goods (or if you have planned the renovation and decoration of your properties ahead!) you could wait until the sales and pick up some great bargains on good quality products. If you are seriously tight on money why not check out some ‘second-hand’ websites where if you spend some time searching you could find a great bargain. Just make sure you don’t agree to pay for anything until you see the item yourself and make sure it works!
We hope that our posts have been helpful for any landlord who is thinking about decorating or renovating their properties any time soon! Don’t forget that the last thing to do is to add some finishing touches that can really sway the decisions of those viewing your properties – a bunch of flowers or the smell of freshly baked bread are well known tricks but they do work!
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