How To Make Your Rental Property The Hottest In The Area
Let’s be honest, the aim as a successful Landlord Queen is to have a property that has a queue of your ideal, dreamy tenants lining up to rent your property, that want to stay long term, so you can maximise your return on investment, have peace of mind your investment is being taken care of and bloody well go live your life and love it! Thrive, not survive!
Let’s make it easier for you, cos that’s one of my favourite words, and how I try to live my life. To do this really isn’t hard work gorgeous, believe me. I’ve done it multiple times and helped plenty of amazing Landlord Queen’s do it too. It’s just knowing what works and making it happen. And it’s certainly not about cutting corners. Trust me, that is the wrong approach and will always backfire.
It's about setting yourself apart from the competition, now, but more so for the long term. Always think ahead!!
As I write this today, there are currently 5,018 properties available for rent in Nottinghamshire, of which 3,711 are still available. Now, demand is still outstripping supply, but there’s still competition, so recession proofing your property by making it the hottest property now and future proofing it is absofrickinlutely the way forward. You need a property that sets itself apart from the rest.
Plus, a Property Girl Landlord Queen has standards, right?!
A Property Girl Queen does not allow anyone to live in a property that she wouldn’t herself because she is all about raising the standards and having a positive impact whilst making an income.
Creating a soulful, gorgeous, safe home has additional benefits to you as a Landlord too.
You can command the best rent, maximising your Return on Investment, additional income and potential to put towards your next property (if that’s what you want to do)
You will minimise void periods, because your tenants will love their home so much, they’ll never want to leave, or if they need/have to, you won’t have any issues finding new tenants. In fact, you’ll probably have them queueing around the block.
You will always have high tenant demand, even if supply and demand shifts
A well maintained rental will increase in value (Capital appreciation)
A high quality rental at the outset will need little maintenance, so you’ll have peace of mind and your time will not be spent dealing with maintenance and repair issues.
So how? It’s quite simple. This is the magic formula. The four steps that will set your rental property apart from the rest and make it irresistible to your ideal tenant.
It’s the fundamentals
It’s the cosmetics
It’s the marketing
And, finally you as a Landlord
The Fundamentals
What are your tenants looking for? A safe and secure place to call home, that they can grow, rest, enjoy, make happy memories in and love.
From your perspective, you want to create a home that you’re proud of, that doesn’t take up loads of your precious time and produces a decent income, whilst gaining capital appreciation.
But, this is where I see so many people getting it wrong.
Before you do anything cosmetic to the property, you need to get the fundamentals right. As with anything, doing the basics first, laying those foundations and building from there sets you up for the long term, something which so many people overlook. They skimp, bodge and make things look pretty, desperate to get tenants in, then things go wrong, and they spend time and more money fixing things, whilst their tenants become unhappy.
So, get the basics right first. Prep now for the long term….let’s dig in and unpack this.
The Fundamentals – This is the stuff that isn’t pretty and often can’t be seen, but crucial to a safe, warm and comfortable home.
Making sure the property is sound - The heating system works, servicing or replacing the boiler if it’s seen better days, ensuring the electrics are up to scratch and compliant, and all other safety (and legal requirements) measures are taken care of, outdoor lighting is working, anything that is broken is fixed (check the roof, the guttering, loose fence panels – anything that could cause an issue) and the property doesn’t have any potential hazards (loose steps, paving slabs etc).
Action: Take a notepad and pen and walk around your property room by room and assess it. Boring I know, but oh so worth it!
And up your energy efficiency game! (I have a whole article coming up on this soon)
Energy bills are rising at an alarming rate and we’re all becoming more aware of what it costs to heat and light our homes these days, and your tenants will be too. The EPC that is advertised with the property is being scrutinized far more than it used to be and is fast becoming increasingly important. After a recent poll, both buyers and tenants are willing to pay more for an energy efficient property. This needs to be a priority, especially with the changes coming into effect in 2025/28. You don’t want your property to chucked on the ‘no’ pile because your EPC rating isn’t up to scratch.
Action: Check your EPC and carry out any upgrades that may be needed. And if you’re looking at a property to buy, make sure you look at the EPC and cost in any upgrades that are required.
Note: If you do works to the property to up it’s EPC rating (C Grade), make sure you have a new survey carried out and the EPC certificate replaced before you advertise. This is going to become more and more important. Get ahead of this.
The Cosmetics
Now the fundamentals are taken care of, this is the part where you have the opportunity to wow your tenants aesthetically, and create something special that they will fall in love with. The marketing photos will no doubt be the first thing that your potential tenants will look at and the tool that will encourage them to pick up the phone to arrange a viewing. It’ll be ‘the look’ of the property’ that firsts attracts them.
So how?
Cosmetically, updating the kitchen and bathrooms, aka the money rooms, will help set your property apart, if your budget allows. You don’t have to go crazy and spend big money. You can just change the doors and worktops on an existing kitchen to give it a modern new look. Check the appliances too, and make sure they work!
Upgrade the flooring and walls. I personally hate magnolia paint. In my opinion, it’s so last century, and actually should never have been a thing! And Landlords choose it because they think if they need to touch up walls etc, they just need to buy another tin of Magnolia, but Magnolia actually comes in a variety of shades, so it’s impossible to colour match it anyway! Go for neutral shades so your Tenants can inject their own personality with their own soft furnishings. I love soft greys with white woodwork.
When I’m refurbing a property for either resale or for renting purposes, I love to add little touches if the budget allows. Things such as a designer radiator in the kitchen area, blinds at the windows, gorgeous handles on the kitchen doors, a stylish kitchen tap, on trend flooring in the bathroom….these little things really do set your property apart. Just don’t choose anything which will date before it’s ready for a facelift.
It needs to be clean, and I’m talking spotless and fresh smelling. Smells evoke emotions and can influence decisions. You my lovely, want any prospective tenant to have good feels only. A clean home shows anyone viewing your property that you take pride in and care of your property, and that too can have a massive influence on someone’s decision.
And don’t forget about the externals, the kerb appeal! I always try (within reason) to make my property look the best on the street. It will definitely stand out then for all the right reasons.
Make sure the garden is tidy, weeded, grass cut, fence panels intact and secure. Clean the windows (Oh my god have you driven by a house that has grubby windows and wondered how bad it is inside? Is that just me? But it is the impression it gives!!)
And the front door. I LOVE a good front door – I think it says a lot about a house and security. People want to feel safe in their homes and a good front door will give that impression. At a minimum, make sure it’s clean and if it’s faded, give it a fresh coat of paint. The colour you choose will probably be dictated by the type of property and location, but check out this article by Your Home Style Uk to give you the latest on trend front door ideas.
Lighting by or above the front door not only looks good, and adds to the kerb appeal, but enhances the feeling of safety.
And finally, if you can, add some greenery or potted flowers. It doesn’t cost much, but honestly, it will enhance the kerb appeal and create that welcoming feel for any prospective tenants when they arrive. These small things will give it the wow quickly and easily, before they’ve even step foot in your home.
It’s the Marketing
Girl, it’s all about the feels and first impressions. Remember, you don’t get a second chance to make that first impression.
When you walk into a property, they say a person makes a first impression in milliseconds.
But the first impression begins before anyone has even set foot inside your property! It begins with the marketing.
Marketing your property says a lot about you. It’s a snapshot, an insight of both your property….and you! And anyone looking at your listing, whether they realise it or not will be gaining an impression about both the first time they view the photos and description.
There is an argument that the presentation of a rental property is not as important as the presentation of a property you are selling. I’ve seen it on the online property portals and it drives me mad.
And of course, I disagree.
Because, your property is still going to be someone’s home and you want to get the best fit possible between you, as a Landlord, and them as your Tenants. Therefore, how you present your property when you market it, will firstly represent you as Landlord, and secondly, the quality of tenant you will attract.
So, let’s talk marketing! If you show up with dull, poorly lit, crappy angled photos and a lack lustre description, what does that say about you as a Landlord? You don’t care, can’t be bothered? You don’t really have time for this?
You will not attract the type of tenant that you want living in your home.
You know me, I’m all about the experience. Creating a customer experience for your potential tenant is also creating an experience for you as a Landlord. A better one! And believe me, this makes it soooo much easier in the long run.
So make it easy for them, irresistible, so they want to pick up the phone and make that appointment to view your property.
Write a description tailor made for your ideal tenant. This is why it’s important to understand who they are, what they want, need and desire from a property and location, so that you can literally show them you’re offering everything they need and want in your property through the description and photos.
Now photos……shit photos do nothing for you or your property. It’s time to up level….in my opinion, having a professional property photographer who has the equipment, skill, understanding of lighting and the experience to make your property shine and stand apart from all the rest is worth every single penny. They’ll make your property leap off the (online portal) page, because quite frankly, it will look ways better than most other listings.
It says a lot about you as a Landlord too. It shows you take pride in your property, that you care and that is important to your prospective tenant.
Plus, you can reuse them again (as long as they’re representative of your property). Happy days!
Finally, floor plans. Do you or don’t you for a rental? I rarely see floorplans used for properties advertised for rent. Me personally, I love a floor plan and it’s the first thing I click on when I look at a property listing. Photos are great, but a floorplan gives me an idea if a property is really going to work for me. They’re not mega money and you can often have them done at the same time as the EPC and/or photographs and this will definitely set your listing apart from others.
You, as the Landlord
Renting is huge these days, more so than what anyone thought it would be and as a result, Tenant’s are becoming more savvy when it comes to finding their home. The average time someone lives in a property is now 25.8 months (the highest it’s ever been). Some are staying far longer, so they are assessing the whole package.
The property + location + YOU.
Just like you’re assessing anyone that views your property as a potential tenant, they’re not only figuring out if the property and location works for them, but they want to know that you’re a decent Landlord Queen that is trustworthy and will take care of their future home. There are too many rogue landlord stories (there are far more decent Landlords than not, but sadly this has impacted the narrative)… so first impressions count! How you present yourself and your demeanour, your friendliness. You are never going to be their BFF, but they’ll weigh you up too….in a matter of seconds (without you even saying a word!). Just saying!
Be friendly, be polite, be open to any questions they may have, know your property, area information, and me personally, I’ve always found that having an informal chat with someone reveals a lot more about a person and their intentions than any ‘professional’ conversation.
But nail the fundamentals, the cosmetics, the marketing and be you and you will create and present the hottest property in the area that will be totally irresistible to your perfect, dream Tenant.
I’m the Queen of property management. It’s my thang and I KNOW what works. I’ve done it for years, been highly successful and managed to maintain an almost 100% occupancy (and minimal void periods) with happy, dreamy tenants and I’ve taught other gorgeous Landlord Queens, just like you, how to do it too.
So, if you want to go deeper and put a plan, tailored to you and your property together, book yourself in for a Property Power Hour with me and we’ll make sure your property attracts a long line of your ideal tenant.
Girl, you’ve totally got this! Are you ready?
