What is expected in a rental property?

Question

Ned Carey · Answer

This goes to knowing your market. What tenants expect in my market, could be very different then your market.

Generally I would guess staging is a waste of money for a rental, but if you have a  more affluent tenant it may be worth while. What your tenant expect will depend on the class of property and your prospective class of tenant. Also is quality a mater of getting higher rent, or getting it rented at all?

In Baltimore City, market tenants are happy with clean and sound in poorer areas. Section 8 tenants want very nicely renovated homes. Why not, the government is paying. It is backwards from what you would expect, the section 8 tenants are pickier.

You need to know your market, which means going to look at other rentals, network  with other landlords and look at their properties.

Sorry no easy answers from me  today.

Jacqueline Carrington · Answer

Most renters don't expect staged rentals unless at a complex with a model unit. It can help prospective renters who cannot visualize space on their own; however, I wouldn't deem it necessary.

Account Closed · Answer

I like to supply blinds or curtain rods in all my rentals. This way the tenants aren't putting unnecessary holes in my walls. I also supply a shower rod, but no curtain.

Stephen Haynes · Answer

I would't say window treatments but a house with blinds is easier to rent. And blinds are cheap and easy to install.

Dawn Anastasi · Answer

I think I would go broke if I left all that stuff every time.  I take my staging items with me to use at the next property.  Many times I will leave the curtains until the tenant is moved in and has curtains of their own to put up in their place, then they give them back to me to re-use somewhere else.

JD Martin · Answer

Where I live SFH's without the following will not be competitive, at least in the demographics that I pursue (lower middle income, middle income, no HUD):

• A modicum of window treatments. Blinds or shades on all windows at a minimum. I don't want them putting up blinds on their own anyway, and they are cheap.
• Stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, W/D hookup.
• Central Heat & Air
• No carpeting, or spotless carpeting
• Availability of cable (for internet, mostly)
• A clean house without pests

Outside of that most everything else is extra or a bonus. I try to eventually fence my properties because it attracts more people that care about that kind of thing (and screens undesirable neighbors).

Dana Whicker · Answer

Dawn, do you leave all of that in place for them?

Dawn Anastasi · Answer

I do mini-staging of my units.  I will put up a shower curtain and rod, bath towels, soaps, and make sure there are either blinds or curtains on the windows.  I put down a rug and some fake flowers around.  Also apple-cinnamon air freshener.

I don't do furniture.

Ravi P. · Answer

don't supply internet, whatever you do. it seems like a nice incentive to provide and get tenants interested if you have a multifamily but the liability is massive. good luck!

What is expected in a rental property?

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