Many landlords opt to undertake their own repairs and decorating. It’s completely understandable to keep labour costs down and complete small works yourself. This is especially the case when redecorating. A fresh lick of paint in a property can help to give it a modern, cleaner feel. A well-maintained property always helps to attract interest when it comes back onto the market or can improve your relationship with tenants when done mid-tenancy.
Choosing to redecorate yourself can add value at a reasonable and affordable cost. However, it is important to ensure that when redecorating you are doing so to a high standard. Poorly painted walls and shoddy work are a constant and unpleasant reminder to tenants of poor workmanship.
Here are some things to consider when redecorating:
Painting & Redecorating
Rental properties should be decorated using neutral colors, this is mainly to please the masses and not put prospective tenants off with bold color schemes that can clash.
The downfall of using neutral colors is that it’s difficult to keep walls clean and they can soon look dirty and unkempt if they’re not looked after properly by your tenants, and as they don’t own the property it’s likely they won’t be too invested in taking care of the paintwork.
To alleviate this, opt for a silk finish, rather than matte paint as this will allow you to wipe down the walls in between tenants. Also, look to purchase high durability paints, these contain latex or acrylic and will help protect your walls and door frames from the inevitable knocks, cutting down on remedial work.
Flooring Options
When it comes to flooring you need to decide between buying good quality flooring that will last longer or choosing a cheaper option and changing this again a few years down the line. Living spaces and dining rooms are ideally suited to laminate, food and drink spillages are inevitable in these areas and laminate is much less likely to stain than carpet.
For kitchens and bathrooms, tiles are the best solution but it can also be the most expensive option – a good quality lino that isn’t going to tear is also a good option. Carpets are generally better suited for bedrooms as they are the most comfortable. You would need to decide whether you choose a good quality carpet that you have professionally cleaned every year or so, or you choose a cheaper option that you’ll need to replace every two years.
Furnishings
It’s entirely up to you as the landlord to decide whether you furnish a property or not, however, it’s always a good idea to provide white goods as these can be expensive outlays for first-time tenants and will definitely increase your chances of letting the property.
If you do decide to furnish your rental property then the furniture you add must be of good quality and fairly new.
Now that you’ve redecorated your rental, how about maintaining it? Read our previous blog post: Rental Property Maintenance Tips for Landlords
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