How to Get Your Austin Property Rent Ready

Exterior Appearance

Presentation is the most important step you will take in marketing your property. Look to popular stores in your area, IKEA,Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel or Targets to get an overview of color trends and home styling products. Then think about the emotions in your mind and how they affect your decisions once you enter the location. I think you will be surprised how much an entry way, fresh smells, and the overall ambiance of a location influences your expectations.

Exterior appearance – First impressions are critical when you are trying to get your house rent ready. Whether you are managing the property yourself or a property management company is doing it for you, the overall look of the property needs to be inviting.

You don’t have to spend a ton of money on landscaping but a freshly mowed lawn with a nice edge on the grass can go a long way. Add in the trimming of the bushes with some new bark or pine straw and you are well on your way to achieving a house with a great presence.

If your rent is above 1,000 per month then I would advise you to plant some fresh flowers in the front of the house. You could even do an accent piece around the mail box. Won’t cost you too much and the fresh colors will add to the warm feel of the home.

Another area you should consider updating with a fresh look would be your windows and trim on the outside of the house. If it has been a couple of years and your tenant has just moved out then now might be the time to apply a fresh coat of paint to those areas. Fresh paint makes a mediocre rental property look warm and inviting. Don’t forget to use caulk around the edges to seal up the house. This is cheap insurance and great preventive maintenance.

If the door step is made out of wood then you might want to freshen it with some paint or stain. Probably take you 20 minutes to complete the job and it will help the overall feel of the home.

Make sure the trash cans are clean and hidden if possible. Garden hoses should look clean and professional.

Don’t forget, as a property owner your largest expense is vacancy. Yes, you will have some upfront costs with the ideas listed above but 1 – 3 months of vacancy can ruin your cash flow for the year.