What Features do Renters want in a Rental Property?

Question

Hi, if a landlord wants reliable and respectful tenants that pay rent on time, what features should that landlord's rental place offer that tenants look for? Please share your opinions and experiences. Thank you in advance!

Colleen F. · Answer

Tenants want an experience/lifestyle. You should have all the amenities for that lifestyle. If you sell family suburb lifestyle you want to have the storage for a family, not so busy street, good yard. Decent kitchen updated, dishwasher , new appliances. If you sell urban living you have proximity to transit, updated or historic look with modern amenities. If you sell country living they want outdoor land plus a house with modern appliances, kitchen. so it depends.

JD Martin · Answer

Depends on your area and what you are renting. I do single family homes. In my area renters want/expect the following:

refrigerator, stove, dishwasher. Central heat & air. No carpeting. Good location. Low/no crime. A bathtub. Some kind of storage for their stuff (big closets or a nice shed). Some kind of window treatments. No critters. Off-street parking.

Things that renters like in my properties that they see as a bonus: fenced in yards. Smooth-top stove. More than one bathroom, even if the other is a half. Same level washer/dryer hookups/non-creepy laundry rooms. Ceiling fans. Included lawn care. New kitchens. Neutral colors. Some kind of usable outdoor space for sitting and/or a grill (deck, patio). Finished/usable basement.

Things I have never had a tenant care about (at least that they communicated): age/type of windows; countertop material; floor material that's not carpet; age/brand of appliances; plants/type of landscaping; color of house exterior; roof type/material; fence type/material; no garage; no dining room.

I'm sure there's other stuff but that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

Dan Maciejewski · Answer

• For me, I pick my ideal client / tenant, and go from there. A young upwardly mobile professional is going to want certain things. When you offer those things, the clients come. In my area:A "good" neighborhood
• Newer, stainless appliances
• Solid surface countertops
• Fresh, contemporary paint
• Newer cabinets
• Responsive and respectful management

Basically, look at 'luxury' new-build apartments in your area and see what they look like. Try to offer similar, but at a better price. That's at least my strategy. And my ideal tenants should only leave when they buy a house themselves!

Cody Neumann · Answer

@Thuy N. Your best bet is to see what other landlords in your market have in there rentals. Hop on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace and see what their rentals look like and what they have to offer and base yours on that

What Features do Renters want in a Rental Property?

What Features do Renters want in a Rental Property?

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