As a landlord, you are probably always looking for new ways to attract tenants and keep the ones you have happy, so they'll stick around long term. Here are three easy methods you can put to use right away:
Spiff up the Appliances
Matching appliances that work well are important to tenants, especially when they're stainless steel. If your kitchen doesn't already feature stainless steel appliances, consider replacing the older stuff with newer options. More expensive items, such as the fridge that don't need to be replaced, can be inspected and repaired by a service technician to ensure optimal performance for your tenants.
After maintenance is complete, you can give the appliances a new coat of epoxy appliance paint to make them all look like they have been made with stainless steel materials. Before painting your appliances, use some sandpaper to smooth out any chips and nicks on them, so they look new after they dry.
Plant a Small Food Garden
In addition to having your appliances replaced or repaired and painted, it's a good idea to plant a small food garden that's easy to maintain somewhere in the yard. Tenants will appreciate the ability to subsidize their monthly bills with free food, especially if they're able to customize the plants that are grown in the garden throughout the year.
So, dig a garden of about eight by four feet or build a container garden of the same size by cutting some plywood in half lengthwise and creating a "sandbox" on the ground with them. Fill the dug garden or sandbox with your favorite gardening soil then plant some tomato, squash, and lettuce seeds in half of the garden and leave the rest free for tenants to garden in.
Create a Safe Play Area
To attract tenants with kids or animals, consider fencing a small area of the yard to be used as a safe play space. A fenced yard will keep unwanted animals and people out of the space and will help keep your tenants' kids and pets out of the street so they can play without the need for constant supervision. Vinyl fencing is a great option because it's easy to maintain, it holds up well to extreme weather elements, and it's super tough so dogs and other large animals can't chew through it.
With the help of these tips and tricks, you should be able to easily attract new tenants and keep your rental home occupied throughout the year.
