So you’ve decided to rent out your property. Great! There’s just a few things you need to make sure are sorted first…

• Repairs

First and foremost, make sure you have undertaken all neccessary structural repairs in your property before it even goes on the market. Indeed, it’s your duty to determine that the property is risk-free and safe for tenants to live in. This means you need to throughly inspect your gutters, check pipes for any leaks, electrical outlets, the roof for any leaks or cracks, repair any damaged furniture, and replace any broken or burnt-out lightbulbs. 

It is also essential to make sure that the smoke alarm is fully functioning and in good condition.

• Painting

A fresh lick of paint can do wonders for your rental property. Painting helps freshen up the space in a way that cleaning just can’t. It can also have a major positive impact on the type of tenants attracted to your property. 

• The garden

You want your garden to be neat, tidy, and easy for tenants to maintain. Whether it’s a big or a small garden, make sure you cut the grass, trim any overgrown bushes, and rake in any branches, sticks, leaves, rubbish, or any other garden debris.

• BER

Since 1st January 2009 it has been a legal requirement to display a valid BER rating for every property that is advertised for rent or sale in Ireland.

A BER can cost anywhere between €100-€200. Once you recieve your certificate, it is valid for 10 years, so it is pretty essential if you are going to advertise your property in order to avoid any possible fines.

We have more information on BER over on our Instagram page, which you find here.

• Furnishings

Will your property be furnished or unfurnished? If your property would be more suited to a family, generally they will want their own furniture, and may be looking for unfurnished homes. Additionally, tenants searching for unfurnished properties are usually looking for a long term rental, providing financial comfort and security for landlords.

If your property is geared towards young professionals or young couples, consider having furnishings as they may not be able to invest or own enough of their own home comforts just yet.

With tenants’ rising expectation of good quality furniture and fittings, consider setting aside an appropriate budget to invest in furnishings. This will help increase interest and appeal in your property, as well as lasting a significant amount of time.  

Benefits of a furnished property include being able to re-use furnishings once the tenancy ends, the possibility of getting a better price for your property and increased demand for your home.

Some benefits of an unfurnished property include less worry over damages, replacements and repairs, happier tenants as they are surrounded by their own furniture and financial comfort, as stated above.

• Cleaning and decluttering

Put yourself in the tenants shoes. You wouldn’t want to live in an unclean home, so it’s important to clean, clean, and then clean again. We’re talking about the floors, windows, bathrooms, kitchen (pay attention to the refrigerator and oven), and any common areas or hallways.

If you’ve had previous tenants, it’s a good idea to double check all perosnal possessions have been removed after they moved out and before new tenants move in. 

For more on decluttering, check out our blog post.

Presenting your Property

Whether your home is occupied or unoccupied, furnished or unfurnished, it’s always important to make sure it’s neat, tidy and presentable when prospective tenants come to viewings. 

If everything mentioned above to done to a T, this shouldn’t be any problem for you, but here’s a few pointers…

• Get the most out of your rooms

If your room can fit a double bed, put one in. Not only will viewers value the space more, it highlights how big the room really is.

• Livin up your room

If you think a room is looking a bit dull or bland, try creating a focal point to make it look more interesting. Features like a mirror or some art work can really transform a normal room and make it look amazing.

• Know your Audience

If you have a family home, take time to stage a kids’ bedroom or a play area in the garden.

If your home is more targeted towards young professionals, try setting up a work from home space; it’s more relevant and in demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• De-personalise

While this can be difficult if you’re advertsing your property when it is still occupied, try to make sure no personal belongings are visible in any listings photos. This allows prospective tenants to envision their own belongings in the property.