Dreaming of making your rental property one that renters will return to year after year? Help make your dreams come true with this blog full of some of the best tips, suggestions, and more!
Hello, Charleston! The temperatures are rising, the beaches are getting busier, and traffic is getting worse. That can only mean one thing, summertime is right around the corner! Just like we mentioned in our last blog, this rental summer season could turn into one of the busiest that we’ve seen in many years, and it’s time now to prepare for it! Working with a property management company like Real Property Management Distinguished Care can help you always stay above and beyond your rental competition. We manage your home and make sure that you always have the best tenants, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. We take care of all the details, so all you need to worry about is enjoying your profits from owning your property! We take the work out of property ownership and give you the freedom to continue living as you choose!
Once you’ve finally reached your dream of owning one rental property or many, you want to make sure that everything about it is perfect and extremely special for every guest and renter that comes through the front door. It is our job to help you manage each property, care for it as our own, make you more money, and make sure that you don’t sweat the small stuff. The first step in catching your renter’s eye? Make your property stand out against all the rest. How can you do this? There are many things that you can do to make your rental property look amazing and help create the most amazing experience for your long-term or vacation renters, which is what we will be talking about today!
There are dozens of apps out there that can list your properties, and there will always be thousands of other property sites just like yours that are being listed every minute. That’s a lot to compete with, especially after the year we’ve just had. It also takes a lot to compete when you’re trying to make a profit off your rental property after 2020. It’s so easy to let your rental property get lost in the shuffle when you’re relying on pictures and ratings alone to get your next renter and to keep your rental full. It also takes time to keep up with everything your rental property needs to thrive and make it look just right. We will say that every moment you spend improving your property is worthwhile and will make your life as a property owner much easier. Before we dive into today’s blog topic, we do want to remind our readers that we can take all of these responsibilities off of your plate, and make sure that you always have a perfect and up-to-date rental property. We help list your property, find the best renter or tenant, and keep up with all repairs, cleanings, safety measures, and more. Today, we are going to be talking about the many ways you can make your Charleston rental property stand out from the rest!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
There is nothing wrong with setting the tone from the moment your renters arrive! A first impression can make a lasting positive impression when you meet someone. Why should it be any different from when someone meets your rental property for the very first time? Start with the outside and work your way in. Make sure to keep the exterior of your rental property clean and organized, from the windows down to the outdoor furniture. Giving your rental property a professional powerwash at least twice a year can make a huge difference in its overall presentation, giving it an air of being brand new again. Don’t forget to give some serious love and attention to your landscaping and keep up with it all year round. The summers can be brutal to any landscaping here in the Lowcountry, but make sure that time is being paid on always keeping up with it. Even if your landscaping is a potted plant jungle, keep it watered and looking healthy! Keep up with all exterior repairs, make sure all of your windows and doors are up to date, and that any decorations you choose to put on the exterior of your home are chosen carefully and are very aesthetically pleasing.
JUDGING BY A PICTURE
Where will people most likely go looking for your rental property? Online! What will be the first thing they search for when they are interested in your online listing? Your pictures! It is really true what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a thousand likes. If an interested renter doesn’t like what they see, they won’t take the time to read anything more about your property, even if the description really does sell it. Beautiful pictures are the gateway to more interested renters, more interested renters reading the details you take time into putting into your listing, and the more likely they will be in following through with actually renting. The key to all of this? Excellent quality pictures. Good pictures don’t have to take a ton of time or cost a lot of money these days, especially with how excellent cell phone pictures can be. However, we do recommend that you have professionals come in and take pictures of your rental, and keep up with these pictures every time you redecorate or do any kind of remolding within your rental property. These pictures need to be updated and kept organized in every listing that is available online, and they need to be an exact representation of what your rental property looks like. If your rental looks nothing like the pictures, you might have a very angry renter on your hands once they arrive at your property. The big key here is to take your time. Dark, blurry, and unfocused photos don’t give a great representation of you or your property. Your property might be incredibly beautiful but if the listing pictures don’t show this, then interested guests will never know. There is also nothing wrong with investing a little extra. Sometimes you do have to spend money to make money. With the popularity of rental properties skyrocketing, there are quite a few professional photographers who dedicate part of their business to taking and editing pictures specifically for property owners.
SMALL DETAILS, BIG IMPROVEMENTS
Who says that every addition that you give to your rental property has to be massive or incredibly expensive? Adding small details can be the cherry on top for every tenant or renter, and it can be the little details that they keep with them forever. New little features can also make your rental property go from extraordinary to extremely luxurious and make any potential renters stop in their tracks! These little additions could be adding a mosaic backsplash behind your stove or bathtub, adding new lighting fixtures to both the inside and outside of your rental property, updating the master bedroom, adding very comfortable and large pieces of furniture to sink into, providing beachgoers with all they need for a perfect day at the beach, stainless steel appliances, and trendy kitchen gadgets. Imagine what would make a stay somewhere extremely luxurious for you when it came to the small details, and add those into your rental property!
THE HOST WITH THE MOST
Another key in having a rental property is having one that is warm, inviting, and welcoming. We will say it time and time again, there is never any harm in going above and beyond. Delivering more to your guests and tenants than what is promised in the listing can make an already pleased renter ecstatic, and can be what they remember for years to come. These little details can also be what turns excellent reviews into returning customers. This also doesn’t hurt when it comes to word-of-mouth advertisement. Your renters will talk about how much they loved your property, and their friends and family members might turn around and rent from you too! We always recommend little touches, things that are unique to who you are as a person that can be reflected in your rental property can make all the difference. Personalized notes, welcome baskets, notes explaining how to use the electronics, and leaving them a welcome packet that includes information on what there is to do and where to go can create a memorable experience for everyone involved. Don’t forget to make everything accessible to any guest, and remove any dangers that could be lurking in a sharp edge or unbalanced ledge. Keep blankets, pillows, and plenty of towels on hand. Keeping your bathrooms stocked with mini toiletries and toilet paper, the kitchen full of little goodies and paper towels, and even a guide on the best places to eat or look for seashells can help make that impression you’re really looking for! Keep your property stocked with these necessities and make sure it’s comfortable. Fix any broken tiles, chipped baseboards, scrapes on the walls, broken windows, and ripped screens. Don’t have anything that stands out that could negatively catch their attention, even if it’s a smaller detail. Keeping your property decor and furniture simple can also be a huge attribute. A home or space that is clean, cozy, and well cared for can mean just as much as any bells, whistles, and free things can.
FOCUS ON THE NOW
Don’t waste any more time dwelling on what your rental property doesn’t have or constantly comment about how you wish you had added certain things or made certain changes. Throw all of that out of your mind and off of your properties listings and celebrate all the wonderful things your rental property does have! If you have anything that other local renters don’t like extra parking, access to a pool, an elevator, or exclusive beach access, make sure to spend a lot of time talking about those things and highlighting them any time you do list your rental property, or even when you talk about it in person.
SET THE TONE
When listing your property, set an expectation for what you’re offering and match it. Don’t be afraid to set the bar high for yourself and your guests. When listing your home, be incredibly thorough and honest. Like we mentioned above, this doesn’t mean that you focus on all the negative, but be very black and white about what your potential future renters coming to Charleston should know. The more your guests know, the fewer questions they’ll have about your property, and the more likely they will be to rent from you. The more open and forward you are and the more information you provide, this will also cut out the number of questions your renters will have and will cut down on your end of things when it comes to spending time answering emails and phone calls. On top of your listing, make it very clear what your expectations are of your guest and what they can and cannot do. When you have high expectations of your property and respect it, that value will mean something to potential guests. If you expect respect, then you’ve put time and care into what you’re offering. Don’t be afraid of going into detail about what you’re proud of in your property and why it is so enjoyable. Make sure you’re using an honest and real tone in your descriptions. Going a little overboard can make you sound a bit fake and it can sound almost too good to be true. Sometimes when it’s too good to be true, it can be quite the letdown. Let your property be accessible even before your guests step foot onto your property. You want to be able to deliver what you’ve promised, and let the rental go overboard when they arrive instead of overpromising and ending up with very disappointed guests or tenants.
IN CONCLUSION
After reading this blog, where is your rental property standing? Do you have a lot of work ahead of you before officially opening your rental property for the season, or are you already ahead of the game and in a good position to stand out against your competitors? No matter where you are in your journey right now with your rental property, Real Property Management Distinguished Care can help you get to where you want to be, and we guarantee that your rental property will always stay that way. It can be scary to have a rental property or to rent your property out for the very first time, but we guarantee that every time you do, it will come with new lessons, new experiences, and new ideas that will keep pushing you to have the best rental property in your area! With this knowledge in mind, remember we are here to take all of it off of your plate if you so choose. If you would like to speak with us or to learn more, never hesitate to reach out. If there is a specific topic you’d like us to write a blog on or information you’d like to know more about, make sure to leave us a comment below. We look forward to making your rental dreams become a reality, Charleston! Take care!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
