Investing in real estate is a great way to earn substantial passive income. Buy a property, rent it out, and earn monthly rental income. It’s the perfect plan, right?

Yes, but it’s not that simple. The rental market can be quite competitive and as a property owner, you might face difficulty finding tenants.

Even if you own a property in a prime location, if the property doesn’t appeal to tenants, you can’t close the deal.

But it’s not all bad news! There are things you can do to attract more tenants and rent out your property at a better price.

Here are 7 design and decor tips that’ll help you rent out your property faster:

1. Clean up the front porch

When it comes to real estate, first impressions are definitely important. For landed properties, the front porch is the first thing your prospective tenants will see.

If they’re being greeted with a rusty gate, cracked floor tiles, overgrown weeds, and various things scattered around the porch, they’ll probably have a very poor first impression.

Before the next viewing, consider doing the following:

◉  If the front gate is rusty or discolored, give it a fresh coat of paint. Some old metal gates can be quite squeaky, so try applying metal lubricants such as WD-40 to the hinges.

◉  Repair any cracked tiles.

◉  Cut any overgrown grass or lalang in the garden area.

◉  Tidy up the porch and throw any unwanted things away.

These changes will leave your front porch looking better and far more appealing to tenants.

2. Pick your floors wisely

Hardwood floors look beautiful, but they tend to be less durable compared to tiles. Wooden flooring can be affected by weather and excess moisture, and they are more susceptible to scratches.

This might be a concern, especially for tenants with kids and pets. Scratched or warped hardwood floors aren’t a pretty sight and may deter tenants from picking your property. Plus, repairing these floors may cost you a bomb.

Basic units sold by developers usually come with tiled floors. Stick with this basic flooring as it’s more durable, and spruce up your property in other ways instead.

Whenever the tiles start looking dull, just polish it, and it’ll look as good as new!

3. Repaint the walls

Dirty walls covered with smudges and scribbles can be very off-putting. Giving the walls a fresh coat of paint will help to brighten up your property and attract more tenants.

Go for neutral colors such white or off-white, as people have different preferences and some tenants may not like bold, striking colors. You don’t want that new coat of paint to become a dealbreaker!

Also, be sure to opt for paint that is easy to clean, for e.g. Dulux EasyClean, so that any stains in the future can be easily cleaned off the walls.

4. Invest in kitchen appliances

Like they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. If you’re looking to rent your property to a family, odds are they’ll need a fully-functioning kitchen to cook their daily meals.

Built-in appliances such as a stovetop, hood and oven can be major selling points for such tenants.

Although electrical appliances may seem like a pricey addition to your rental property, there are various options out there to fit different budgets. Look out for good deals and invest in these appliances when they’re on sale.

5. Hang curtains for the windows

If your property has a lot of oddly-sized windows, prospective tenants may worry about having to stitch curtains for a place that isn’t even theirs! These custom curtains may not even be reusable when they move.

To solve this problem, get custom curtains stitched and hanged in your rental property. You can get this done at an affordable price at stores such as Nagoya.

This saves your tenants the trouble of having to buy curtains themselves and becomes a major plus point for your property.

6. Improve the lighting

Lighting is everything!

Ensure that the rooms have sufficient overhead lighting, especially the rooms that don’t get a lot of natural light. Replace any dated light fixtures with modern, sleek ones.

Before showing the property to tenants, replace any lightbulbs that aren’t working. Brightly lit rooms offer a warm welcome and allow tenants to view your property more thoroughly.

7. Furnish your property

Furnished or partly-furnished properties attract a higher rental than unfurnished properties.

Some basic furnishings that you should consider including are ceiling fans, water heaters, kitchen cabinets, and built-in wardrobes. Additional furnishings that could help you attract more tenants include air-conditioning and furniture.

The extent to which you should furnish your property depends on the type of tenants you expect:

◉  For properties that attract families, such as double storey houses in suburban areas, you could stick with basic furnishing as they’ll probably have furniture of their own.

◉  For properties that attract single, working adults, such as high-rise condominiums in the city centre, a fully-furnished property could be more appealing.

And there you have it!

Do give these design and decor ideas a try. They will certainly make your property more enticing to tenants.

If you’re hesitant to invest money in your rental property, keep in mind that furnished properties that are in good condition are likely to fetch a higher rental, so you can recoup the added cost of sprucing up the place.

Create a lovely home for your tenants, and you’ll be able to rent out your property in no time. Good luck!

Looking for tenants? List your property on our website today!