How to Maintain Your Rental Property’s Curb Appeal

First impressions are very important when it comes to rental homes, as well as other things. Curb appeal drastically affects whether or not potential renters will want to rent or not. If you as the owner of the home can look at the property and find something on the outside that would stop you from wanting to live there, then it’s time to make some serious changes to the property’s curb appeal. Here are a few ways you can help add to your properties curb appeal and create a greater draw for potential tenants to want to rent the home.

Update the Front Door and Exterior Lights

Updating the front door can boost your property’s curb appeal almost instantly. Over the years under the influence of the elements, the paint currently embedded on your front door can begin to chip and become worn, giving the impression of a poorly maintained property. This is definitely not the impression you want to give. To change this, all you need to do is give it a fresh new coat of paint and the results will be amusing. If you are unsure of how the front door might affect potential tenants, ask yourself these questions:

Is the door painted an attractive, modern color that goes well with the rest of the home?
Is the door hardware up-to-date and in good condition?
Is the door free of damage and/or chipped paint?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, then we would highly consider you think about updating the front door to add some extra curb appeal and let your tenants know you care about maintaining the look of the property.

Updating the exterior lights is another easy project that can add great curb appeal. You can choose to either install new ones, or you can opt for spray painting what’s already there to give a cleaner look and help match it better to the newly painted door. Simply, remove the glass inserts and the lightbulb, tape some newspaper on the wall around it, and spray paint it!

In the night time, check all lights to make sure they give off proper brightness. If necessary, replace the bulbs with stronger ones. Proper lighting will not only boost your curb appeal, but it will also improve your property security.

Spruce up the Garage

Bringing attention to the garage is something that usually gets forgotten when getting ready for a new tenant. Even if the previous owner didn’t own a car, tenants tend to use the garage space for storage. Storage spaces tend to get quite messy and dirty over time. With no attention paid to the garage, odors and stains can definitely become prevalent and could possibly scare off potential tenants. So, give it a good sweep and a pressure wash, and if necessary, re-paint the floor with durable floor paint. Doing this will give your garage an instant makeover.

Maintain the Lawn and Surrounding Areas

It isn’t just enough to mow your property’s lawn every once in a while, you also need to make sure you are watering it regularly and taking out any weeds that might be growing. Doing this will not only help make the property appealing to potential tenants, but it will also leave a good impression on anyone who may drive by. An unkempt lawn could scare off top-quality tenants before they even set foot into the home.

It is also important to maintain any bushes, shrubs, or other plants that may be growing in the front yard. Overgrown plants can become susceptible to disease and pests and can make your property look neglected. To avoid having these issues arise, find out what kind of care the shrubbery already planted requires.

Plant Something

If the property doesn’t currently possess any plants or shrubbery in the yard, consider planting some! Adding a few plants to the front yard can make a huge difference and create a greater appeal to the property. Just be sure you don’t overplant. You wouldn’t want to place your tenants into a home that requires tremendous amounts of yard work as it is likely it won’t get done. Before you plant anything, make sure to look into low-maintenance plants that will help make the property look phenomenal without requiring lots of maintenance work. Here’s a few different plants you could consider:

Scabiosa
Iris
Texas Mountain Laurel
Autumn Sage
Pomegranate
Texas Ash
Desert Willow
Live Oaks
Rosemary

Educate Your Tenants

Educating your tenants is a very important part of maintaining the appeal of your rental properties. Most tenants don’t care to take care of the property because it isn’t there own so chances are they won’t take care of it. However, if you are willing to take the time to educate them on how you expect the home to be run, then there’s a better chance of the overall appeal of the property going up. It’s important to set expectations and hold your tenants responsible for keeping them. Completing regular checkups to make sure they are upholding their end of the deal is a great way to do so.

Doing the little things will make the difference and help potential tenants know you care about the way the exterior of the property looks. For more tips on how to better keep your rental properties curb appeal up, contact Keyrenter San Antonio today!

Why Rental Properties Are A Great Long-Term Investment

Many people invest their extra resources in various things, like the stock market or other things. Rental properties are often one of the most beneficial long-term investments. There are many reasons to invest in a rental property. These investments tend to compound in benefits over the long-term, rather than for short investments. Here are a few of the reasons why rental properties are a great long-term investment.

You’re In Charge

When you invest in a rental property, you are in charge of everything that happens on the property. This provides you for more freedom when it comes to how you make your money. Some people invest in rental properties simply for extra income, while others use it as their full time job. Either way, you are in complete control over your investment in a rental property.

Multiple Avenues for Income

There are many ways in which a rental property can provide you with additional income. For one thing, a rental property will appreciate over time, meaning that it will increase in value. Eventually, if you decide to sell it, you are likely to get more money for it than you initially spent. Another avenue for income is the income that you obtain from monthly rental payments. This helps to offset mortgage expenses and many other things. Rental properties can also be used as a tax write-off, which helps to save you even more money.

Always Needed

There will always be a need for places to live, so rental properties will always be in demand. Due to this, rental properties tend to be a fairly reliable investment. Additionally, the housing market is usually easy to predict.

Rental properties can be a particularly valuable investment. However, they do occasionally come with a bit of work. Here at Keyrenter, we are dedicated to providing you with the services that you need to manage your rental properties. To learn more about the reasons why rental properties are a great long-term investment, contact us at the Keyrenter in San Antonio today!

What Should I Include in My Lease Agreement?

Rental lease agreement form on an office desk.

The lease agreement is very well one of the most important documents of the rental process. It is used to protect both landlords and tenants, so it is important to ensure that you have a comprehensive lease agreement before you rent out your property. Here are a few things that are important to include in your lease agreement.

The Names for Every Tenant

When you only have one tenant listed on the lease agreement, you may be unable to hold the other tenants accountable for following your terms. It is important to ensure that every adult tenant signs the lease agreement and ensure that they list underage tenants, as well.

Term Length

Include the total term length of the lease. It is also important to list the policies for early cancellation. Ensure that your tenants know how to renew their lease agreement when the term has ended. You will also need to decide whether you want the lease agreement to be on a month-to-month basis, a yearly basis, or even longer.

Rent Considerations

It is vital to ensure that you list the rent price on your lease agreement to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding this. You will need to also list the specific due date for rent, how you wish to collect the rent payment, and any applicable late or insufficient funds fees. It is crucial to ensure that your security deposit requirements are listed on the lease agreement. Include situations in which the security deposit will be withheld, how it will be used, and how it will be returned if necessary.

Your Specific Rules

There are certain policies that are primarily up to the landlord. Ensure that you list these clearly on the lease agreement. For example, if you allow pets but require a monthly fee, list it. If you don’t allow smoking in the property but allow it outside, have this outlined on the lease agreement.

Your lease agreement is one of the most important documents of the entire rental process. Ensure that your lease agreement is thorough and comprehensive to protect yourself and your tenants. To obtain help crafting a superior lease agreement, contact us at the Keyrenter in San Antonio today!