Prepare Your Long Beach Home to Become a Rental

In any home you get used to those certain nuances (let’s be honest they are annoying) that are easier to work-around than fix. It could be anything from a broken electrical socket, a troubled faucet handle to door hinges that creak. Whatever the items are you might have gotten used to them but a new tenant will see them as signs you don’t care about the property. It’s easy to assume that if a prospective tenant doesn’t see that you have fixed a socket prior to them signing the lease agreement, how can they be assured you will be attentive to their needs once the lease is signed?

Even if the items are small, yes even those creaky hinges, take the time to get everything in tip top shape before you start showing your property to prospective tenants.

This is one of those items that many property owners resist due to the investment. If you have had a tenant for a number of years, or if you are going to rent your home after living in it for a period of years then this is one of the key updates you can do to demonstrate that your rental is the one to rent. There is nothing like walking into a home and getting enjoying that fresh paint smell. The home might have been built in the 40’s (like many throughout Long Beach) but a fresh coat of paint will have someone feeling like they are walking into new construction. Keep in mind that while you might enjoy bold colors that can be a bit too specific to your tastes. Consider neutral colors to attract the widest variety of great tenants.

In many properties there is a mix of flooring types. It is very common to have wood, tile, and carpet in the same home. Depending on where each type of flooring is located and the age can dictate whether you are going to be in need to clean or replace it.

The most heavily trafficked areas (i.e. Living rooms and Kitchens) traditionally have the most wear. In these areas if you have flooring that can withstand the use, think of tile or wood, then you might be able to get by with a nice deep cleaning to have your Long Beach home in rental ready condition. Carpeting usually suffers the most as between kids and pets it is very difficult to care for. Before deciding to replace carpet consider having a professional floor cleaning service out to provide you with their expertise on whether it can be saved.

If you do have to replace flooring take time to consider current trends, what flooring investment could last over time, and which one will have renters eagerly submitting their application for your home.

People often attribute curb appeal only to those properties that are listed for sale but that certainly isn’t the case. With a variety of homes, condos, and apartments available for rent it is important to consider what you can do to attract the right renters for your Long Beach property. While there are many items you could do to spruce up your home’s curb appeal we invite you to consider a few key ones that can provide a high impact at an efficient price:

Checking the key systems that can result in a frustrated tenant is a key step to complete prior to renting. Consider having professionals out to perform service on your Heating/A/C, check your water heater, and maybe even perform a mainline clean-out. If you want to avoid the service aspect then you could engage a property inspector to run through your entire house (common when purchasing a property) and they can give you a good idea on your home’s general health. Keep in mind if you haven’t had some of your systems checked annually they are likely due for service anyway.

Don’t let this list be daunting. Each one is a step that takes an investment of time and money but will also help you to find the best prospective tenant for your home. When you want help with these items we invite you to give us a call at (562) 888-0247 and we can share how we can accomplish all of these tasks and even find you a great renter.

And if your home is already prepared to become a rental and you would like to discover how much we feel it could rent for, simply request our Free Rental Analysis.