Buy To Let Properties - A Guide For Appealing To Tenants And Low Maintenance

As the housing market drops, a number of people are considering buy to lets while prices are low. If you are thinking of investing in a buy to let property, what things should you consider? How do you make it appealing to tenants (and rent it quickly) yet minimize the time you have to spend maintaining it between lets?

Decoration

Neutral colours are essential. Magnolia or white may seem bland to you, but they make the property look clean, airy and spacious. Strong colours are more likely to put potential tenants off. Give them a background, so they can more easily imagine themselves living there. You can always add a splash of colour with pictures or some flowers.

Wallpaper tears, which makes it costly and time consuming to repair or replace. So use paint. It is easy to touch up or repaint if necessary. Make a note of the brand you used for retouching, as brands are slightly different in shade. Always store a little of the paint you used, so that minor damage and furniture removal marks can be quickly touched up at the end of tenancy. If the property needs more than a touch up, by using the same shade throughout the house, not only do you create a feeling of space, but you need only buy that shade for maintenance. And magnolia and white are the cheapest colours!

So leave out your personal taste; the more neutral the property is, the wider the range of potential tenants it will appeal to.

Flooring

If you're going for carpet, it's a balance. It needs to fit the neutral theme, but also a style that doesn't show the dirt too much! The kind of carpet which works well is a kind of biscuit colour, made up of several shades. Plain shades tend to emphasise any stain.

Laminate flooring is a popular and practical floor covering. Tenants tend to prefer it, as it is easy to keep clean and any spillages can be cleaned without leaving stains.

In deciding your flooring options, remember to take noise into account. Laminate floors can be noisy if there are people below them, such as in a flat.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Tenants will want clean, modern kitchens and bathrooms. You will want kitchens and bathrooms requiring minimum maintenance and repair!

Damp can be a problem in these rooms, so use the paint designed for kitchens and bathrooms, as it is water and mould resistant. Consider a tumble dryer or washer-dryer, as it should avoid tenants hanging dripping clothes about and so encouraging mould to flourish. It's an initial investment for you, but it will be the tenants who pay for running costs.

Even if your property is to be let unfurnished, there are a number of items you would do well to include, such as cookers, fridge freezers and washing machines. This will avoid damage to walls and kitchen units from tenants moving their own in and out. If washing machines are tipped sideways to move them, they usually leak dirty water and soap build up. If their machines are not properly installed, they can leak, damaging your kitchen units. Electrical items must be checked by an electrician to ensure that they are in safe working order and pose no threat to tenants.

Furnishings

If you are going to rent out your property as furnished, the same neutral rules apply. They should be of a sufficiently high quality to both attract and survive tenants. Don't try and cut costs with cheap second hand furniture. As well as being unattractive to many tenants, most furniture in rented properties must meet minimum fire resistance standards.

You will need to supply bulky items such as beds, wardrobes, sofas, dining table and chairs. You might consider a rental furniture package, as companies specialising in supplying these know the standard tenants expect and the most durable options.

Remember that letting agents will do an inventory and if you have too many small items like kitchen utensils and pots and pans, the inventory is likely to cost more as it will take longer to complete.

Two tips

Photograph the property before tenants move in. Then both parties will have a clear record of the state of the property when they move in.

Try to not get too attached to the property. Remember it is an investment, not your home. Tenants will NEVER care for and look after the property like you would.