Is your home tenant-ready?

While a clean and well-maintained house can increase your chances of finding tenants, you can make the most of your rental income by upgrading your home and making it liveable and appealing for them...

A well-maintained house appeals more to tenants; it will rent faster and for a higher price. Home-owner Aniket N, who has been renting out his apartment for years shares this sentiment and believes that the sooner your house is rent-ready, the lesser money you will lose due to vacancy. “If your house is clean and in good shape, your chances of finding a tenant are quicker. Also, most tenants usually keep the house in good condition – after all, they would want their security deposit back,” he explains.

The rental market is an increasingly competitive one and unless you’re on top of your game, it can get difficult to attract good tenants. Vignesh Shanbhag, a Pune-based landlord, is a strong believer of presentation of the house, especially online. “On online rental platforms, it is quite common for tenants to look for properties by using the filter option to exclude properties that don’t include pictures. Hence, ensure that you upload the latest pictures on the portal. You don’t need to spend money on a fancy camera to get good photos as even your mobile phone will work,” he explains adding that a tripod and the ‘wide angle’ factor help you maximise space in photos, showing off the room at its best angle, even in low-light situations. “Highlight aspects that are unique or special to your house,” he adds.

Safe and sound

Security is a key aspect that tenants look for in a house as they would feel more at ease if they have a safe place to live in. It not only protects your investment, but also makes the building more attractive to tenants.

In the case of Rajesh Kadam, security was paramount. “When we went house-hunting, we shortlisted a flat in a high-rise as it was in close proximity to my wife’s workplace. Also, security was our top priority. Our landlord was very understanding. After a brief discussion, he agreed to install a safety door and grills (for the safety of our toddler),” says Kadam.

Minimal for millennials

Renting a home with appliances may allow you to boost the rental price, but you also have to factor in the cost of repairs or maintenance. “Minimalism is quite the in-thing today. Young working professionals and even Double Income No Kids (DINK) couples opt for a lower-maintenance lifestyle that comes with renting,” says Aniket. With millennials increasingly renting instead of buying, Shanbhag says that he stages the house for prospective tenants to give it a homey and lived-in feel. “Considering my house is near a commercial hub, we have young professionals as tenants. I keep the furniture to a minimum, and include eco-friendly interiors with wallpaper and furniture made out of used plastic items.”

Pet peeve

Hyderabad-based Shashank Shekhar says that as a pet owner, finding apartments can get tedious, but many landlords allow tenants to keep pets as they either love pets or see benefits. “If a landlord is not averse to pets, then they have a broader pool of tenants (because pet owners have fewer options).”

Here's what you can do to make your house rent-redy:

SALONI KHOSLA, head of bespoke, Pepperfry

1. Add some buoyancy to your kitchen shelves by bringing in succulents and colorful planters;
2. Adorn bedside tables/ console tables with scented candles and antique curios such as telescopes and tripod lamps;
3. Add a boho-chic vibe to your study room by incorporating a blackboard for a scribble or a to-do list;
4. Swap your window curtains/ blinders with bamboo chick blinds for a rustic touch;
5. For paints, go neutral with white or very light grey and opt for water-resistant paint in the kitchen and bathroom.

Source: Times of India