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rental

Rental apartments come with certain perks – you don’t have to worry about repairs or any complications that come with homeownership. At the same time though, you also have limitations on how much you can decorate and change about your home. 

If you don’t like the wallpaper in your home or need to make some structural changes, your hands are basically tied unless your landlord allows you to do it. In most cases though, that is not the case. 

UMoveFree helps you find apartments for rent that might fit your needs, but it’s hard to find a place where the owner will let you modify and decorate as much as you wish. When working with limited recourses when it comes to interior decor, here are some things you can do. 

Indoor Plants 

There’s nothing quite like using indoor plants to liven up a drab and dull apartment. Not only are certain indoor plants known for purifying the air and making the atmosphere better, but simply having plants and flowers around can improve your mood and make your rental smell better. 

Things like large potted plants can be great for corners, and you can even install hanging plants from the ceiling. At the same time, you might want to hang some plant-based art on the walls or place flower pots on open shelves. You can also place fresh and dried flower arrangements in vases around the house. 

Textures and Fabrics 

Photo by Jean van der Meulen: Pexels

One thing you shouldn’t do is underestimate the importance of fabrics and textures in your home decor. The right rug, tablecloth, or curtain can really transform a space, and there’s nothing stopping you from getting anything like this according to your choice in your rental apartment. 

If you want your home to have a more colorful and vibrant atmosphere, think about getting cushion covers, tablecloths, and curtains that fit the intended theme. When getting patterns, make sure to vary the size of the patterns rather than the style – they will all blend together in the room no matter what style they are if that’s the case. 

At the same time, natural textures like cotton and layering different kinds can help you add some depth and openness to the space without making the space too loud or colorful. 

If your home is small and space is limited, avoid covering the floor with rugs or carpets. 

Removable Wallpaper

One of the best ways to work around not having the wall colors or patterns you desire is to use removable wallpaper to decorate your space. This way, you won’t be making any major changes to your space that your landlord would object to all while getting yourself the interior you always wanted. 

If this would be your first time getting removable wallpaper, make sure to get more than you think you’ll need. You should also avoid getting any patterns that are too delicate and wouldn’t be easy to align. The pattern should also be something that doesn’t let small air bubbles be too obvious on it.  

rental

Most landlords wish for a stable, preferably long-term, relationship with their tenants. However, you cannot expect to have a harmonious and lucrative relation if you don’t offer anything in return. When they come to take a look at the rental, they don’t want to find a place in dire need of repair but a cosy nest they can live in. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to make your rental more appealing to the prospective tenants.

Obtain home insurance

Your rental is your source of income, so naturally, you wish for it and your belongings to be safe and from a tenants’ point of view, it shows that you are professional and thorough. Also, they would be at peace knowing that, in case something unexpected happens, they don’t have to worry about being blamed or expected to pay for items that got destroyed. Naturally, you need to do detailed research into different insurance options since you would want it to cover as much as possible – some even cover up to 12 months of rent if the property isn’t habitable after some disaster. Obtaining a comprehensive insurance policy is a practical move both in terms of security and the impression you will leave on your potential tenants.

rental

Invest in practical furniture

One of the elements that tenants appreciate in any home is functional and comfortable furniture. It often happens that they need to sleep on old sofas so if you have room for a proper bed, that will definitely pique their interest. If you don’t have enough space, you can purchase a pull-out sofa but make sure to test it so you are certain that one can get a good night’s sleep on it. As for the rest of the furniture, it depends on the size of the property and your budget. However, avoid overstuffing the rental because it will seem smaller and cramped. Also, you might be surprised by the popularity of sustainable furniture, so for instance by opting for a set of chairs made from bamboo, you will attract millennials who make up a big portion of current tenants and who are well-known environmentalists. 

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Provide quality appliances 

Perhaps the most decisive elements in the decision-making process of a tenant are quality appliances. Most will not even mind that much if the place is a bit smaller than they searched for initially as long as the appliances they use daily work properly. Provide them with a stove and the fridge for the kitchen so they can prepare and store food and feel more at home and also consider purchasing a washing machine. Since many rentals don’t have it, opting for a quality washing machine will give you an advantage from the tenants’ perspective. In general, if you can afford it, you may invest in energy-efficient appliances which is an excellent solution for decreasing the energy bills in the future.

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Improve the curb appeal 

Although not even a lavish exterior guarantees that the interior is in a good state, it still leaves a strong first impression with tenants. If the lawn is messy, tend to the grass and any bushes and trees and clear out the driveway. Another thing to consider is the front doors – sturdy front doors in combination with windows with functional locks give out the notion of safety and are something which will be highly valued by any tenant. If the current doors are in a state of repair, you need to take care of them immediately since the beauty of the interior will fade if they feel unprotected. Also, if your rental is a house, you can consider adding external motion sensor lights so that any unwanted guests are warded off due to this extra layer of security.

rental

Liven it up with some colour

Chipped paint is not something that tenants will think of as charming, so fixing such issues is essential for a long-term relationship with tenants. Also, adding a splash of colour can be a good idea to change the atmosphere of the rental. Naturally, you needn’t go too wild because dark purple walls might not be to everybody’s liking. What you can do is paint the rental in some neutral colours to refresh it and make it appear more spacious and brighter and then you can add a few walls in some colour that pops, such as blue or yellow. You can achieve the same effect with furniture, so white walls would go splendidly with a turquoise armchair.

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Conclusion

In the world of real estate, safety comes first. Only once you take care of that, you can tend to functionality and aesthetic appeal to attract reliable long-term tenants.

When it comes to Airbnb rentals, there is no shortage of them. With so many different and amazing options, choosing where to stay can make travelers feel like they’ve just entered a candy store. And in this candy store, you want your cake to stand out. So, how do you do that? Of course, a lot of it depends on décor, as in this case, people will judge a book by its cover. So, if you want your Airbnb to be the most eye-catching one, here are a few design trends that could raise the value of your Airbnb and attract more guests. 

Think about your audience

Now, let’s be real – if your Airbnb is not overlooking some breathtaking scenery or if it’s not close to the important points of interest, you’re going to need to put in some effort. For starters, think about the kind of audience your city is most likely to attract. For example, if it’s mainly famous for festivals and nightlife, you probably want to make your place more Instagram-worthy. On the other hand, if most of your guests happen to be families, then you want to provide them with a comfortable and children-friendly atmosphere. In short, every aspect of your property’s design depends on the effect you want to achieve, and thus, on the audience you want to attract.

 

 

Don’t go wild with the base

Neutral colours might sound boring at first, but they are the safest choice simply because nobody dislikes them. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should paint everything in white and cream and leave it at that. You should spice things up with more vibrant colours – but they should be introduced through smaller details like artwork, plants, pillows, rugs, etc. This way, you’re less likely to scare off any more conservative types, and you might even impress a few people with your ability to combine different colours and create something that is everything but boring. 

What’s under your feet matters

Now, many Airbnb hosts leave their floors bare simply because it’s easier to clean them that way. Although that might be more practical, it’s definitely not more visually appealing nor comfortable. So, don’t be afraid of adding a fashionable jute rug to your Airbnb. Jute rugs are very sturdy, and they are eco-friendly, which means that your property will also appeal to the eco-conscious audience. Finally, they also come in many different sizes and colours, so they can upgrade your neutral base perfectly. 

Don’t forget about storage

This might seem like a no-brainer, but many hosts focus so much on minimalism and décor that they completely forget about storage. After all, you will have people coming from another country – they will have lots of stuff with them, and they don’t want to look for a place to hang their jacket or put their stuff. There’s nothing wrong about minimalism if that’s what you’re aiming for, but still, that’s not an excuse to be lazy. Therefore, add some hooks to the wall, build in some cupboards, and put a rack for shoes near the entrance door. Don’t make your guests frustrated the first minute they enter. 

Make it smell nice

Last but not least, interior design is not all about visual appeal. True, when browsing the website, the appearance of your Airbnb will matter the most. However, keep in mind that people often travel to the same city more than once, especially if there is a certain annual event that they want to attend. So, you don’t want to just attract new guests, but you also want to bring back the old ones. And this is where your other senses come into play – make your Airbnb smell nice. It’s bound to leave a good first impression and give you a few extra points in the reviews. Just make sure not to pick any overwhelming scent so you don’t turn off guests with allergies. 

Being an Airbnb host is a competitive business that does require a lot of dedication in order to stay in the game. Raising the value of your property depends a lot on how you can make your guests feel – there’s a reason why they chose an Airbnb instead of a hotel. So, make them feel at home, and they’ll be more than willing to show appreciation for your effort.

The proportion of individuals and families renting properties instead of buying them is on the rise across the globe. This is good news for landlords who are planning on listing their homes for renting. However, just as modern home buyers, today’s renters are very demanding when it comes to property’s functionality and décor. So, if you are planning to rent your house, you should consider remodelling it to suits your future tenants’ needs and so you can ask for a higher rent, which is, in the long term, a very good investment. In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about remodelling your rental property.

First, check for issues

Regardless whether your house is five or twenty years old, you should still do a thorough examination of the house’s current condition. The first things to check are the ones that can backfire the most. Those are the foundation, electrical wiring and outlets, plumbing and water valves. Do this while the property is still empty, and if there is any need for repairs and replacements, do it before the other works start.

Establish a likely rent, and see where to make improvements

Avoid overspending. Not everything needs to be remodelled or upgraded. Try to establish the best assets of your property and how would you use them to get a good price, and see where you need to improve it to get an even better price. The usual selling-points are the kitchen and the bathroom, and these two already make substantial investments.

Kitchen makeover

Remodelling the kitchen can bring you the most thumbs up from potential renters, and it can be decisive when it comes to the height of the rent. While you should definitely install new kitchen elements if the old ones are dated, you should stick to a simple design and colour palette that can appeal to the average tenant. Since the most frequent renters are millennials which are demanding on trendiness, you should get informed about most popular appliances, and stick to energy-saving units.

Spruce up the bathroom

The bathroom is another room that can make or break the renting agreement. It is also a very expensive investment, but if your plumbing is in good shape, this will be much easier and more affordable. As with the kitchen, you should go with a neutral colour palette and a clean style. There are some ways to save on the bathroom renovation, such as getting lightly used or recycled fixtures, installing a sun tube instead of a window, using subway tile (much more affordable, and with the right décor, very chic), and limiting the tile to “water-sprinkling” areas, while painting the others with moisture-resistant paint.

Invest in floors and paint

If the house isn’t lived in for some time, it is highly likely that the floors and the walls aren’t looking very well. This is something that catches the eye of the potential tenants really fast, so it is a good place to invest.

  • Some affordable and durable options for flooring are wood laminate, bamboo and vinyl.
  • Paint should be bright and neutral so that the future tenants could decorate it according to their taste.

Subtle, but livable décor

Your tenants may decide to bring their own furniture and accessories, but it’s up to you to present them space as welcoming, and an empty house says everything but that. This includes some basic furniture, such as the living room sofa and coffee table, and details that will make the house inviting, such as greenery and fresh flowers.

Put the house on the market

Now that everything is done, it is time to get informed about the local tax laws and property rules. If everything is by the book, move on to setting a competitive price by comparing with the other rentals in the neighbourhood. Be realistic, don’t set the price too high. Expect that the tenants will be scouting around for better deals. Remember that being a landlord is a huge responsibility, so you have to screen tenants carefully because you need to be sure that they will treat your property responsibly and pay the rent on time. Once you find the tenant that you like, ask for a security deposit.

While it does bring a secure monthly income, being a landlord also brings many obligations, including adapting your home to the needs and desires of the people who are going to live there. Hopefully, these tips will help both you and the tenants have a mutually beneficial relationship.