Preparing Your Home
As spring kicks into action and the weather warms up, people are going to begin looking at their holiday options. For those with investment property, that means it’s time to get your holiday homes ready for summer rental – but what’s the best way to prepare?
Be Strong
As spring kicks into action and the weather warms up, people are going to begin looking at their holiday options. For those with investment property, that means it’s time to get your holiday homes ready for summer rental – but what’s the best way to prepare?
If you own a holiday home, you’ll be letting it to a lot of different groups, with different lifestyles and home attitudes – everything from relaxed young adult holidays to family vacations with boisterous kids. Make sure you prepare for everything with durable materials in your furniture. Cane products with the right upholstery can be nice and strong, easy to move and give your home that true summer Bach feel. Tabletops are going to see a lot of action in the next six months so make sure to check their condition as well.
Be Dry
If you don’t rent your home out over winter, now is the time for a thorough inspection of the property for dampness and dust. Depending on your location, the winter months could see a buildup of unsightly damp spots or even mold, so you need to make sure this is taken care of before you rent it out. Check floorboards and your deck, too. It can be an arduous task but happy tenants will create a huge network of people who hear about your home and simply have to rent it out.
Be Smart
Check up on your tenancy contracts: Owning a holiday home often means a lot of tenants, which can sometimes be a hassle. Make sure these agreements protect your property and you won’t have a problem keeping it in perfect shape. These also let you set the ground rules for things like parties, pets and smoking, and screening your potential tenants thoroughly always helps. If you want to step back from this aspect of owning a holiday home, a property manager can handle this side of the property for you.
The features people look for in their rental property are not far from what people look for in a home to purchase – a sturdy, comfortable holiday home will keep tenants coming back to your investment property year after year. Provide the home comforts you would want for yourself on holiday, and tenants will provide the steady stream of business for your holiday home.
When you’re selling a property, it is easy to get so caught up in your preparations for an open home that you neglect the buyers themselves. Here are some things to watch out for when you open your home for viewing that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Think of the Children
When you’re selling a property, it is easy to get so caught up in your preparations for an open home that you neglect the buyers themselves. Here are some things to watch out for when you open your home for viewing that shouldn’t be forgotten.
You may not have children, but buyers might – the reverse applies too. If you don’t have kids, you should consider areas of your home that are possible hazards for children that would come through your open house. Is poolside fencing sturdy? Have the pets been dropped off at a family member or friend’s for the day? Are small objects out of reach of toddlers? Anyone interested in buying your home that has children will be looking for a home that is safe for the little ones, especially if they’ve taken them along to the open house, and seeing these protections already in place will put your home in good favor with them.
Assurance Through Insurance
When you host an open home, you are letting an untold amount of strangers into your personal space and while people are generally courteous, accidents can happen. You should make sure your insurance is up to date so you don’t have to put even more work into your home before selling!
Prepare for the Fussiest Buyer
The ‘my house my castle’ mentality is something that needs to be dropped as soon as you decide to sell a home, as difficult as it may be. While you might appreciate the rustic charms of your home, you should always prepare it with the fussiest buyer possible in mind – keep everything as clean as humanly possible and turn the aesthetic pleasure of your home right up. If you’re confident that your home will please even the pickiest of customers, then imagine what anyone less than fussy will think about your gleaming home!
Ditch the Sentimental Items
Do you have household items or furniture that you can’t do without? That you absolutely must take with you when you leave? You should put them in storage.
Buyers will see them during open homes and if they’re spectacular items, want to inquire about whether they will come with the house or not. Save yourself and potential buyers the conflict, and put them away before you open your doors.
Everyone who comes to your home will have different tastes and expectations, and it’s important to cater to as many as possible in a safe, clean manner. Think about what they want, and they’ll come running to you with offers.