You’ve got a property. Check. You’re looking for renters. Check. You’re getting viewing. Check. But nobody is renting. Hmmmm, With a flow like this it is pretty easy to see where you are going wrong. Now the last thing we want to do is criticise your style choices for the property but there is clearly one let down. The property, style and aesthetics. What to change and where to begin is where this article can help.
A survey conducted by Plentific, a partner of Zoopla and therefore with access to a substantial database of information, has concluded that almost half of tenants are swayed by the kitchen over any other room in the house. This may not seem too surprising, but along with the knowledge that 28% would-be renters are willing to increase their rental for a higher standard kitchen, it becomes clear that the main area to address must be the kitchen. As the main point of focus for almost a third of renters surveyed, it would be foolish to ignore.
This trend in buyer preferences continues regardless of what price bracket you are dealing with. First time renters or experienced well off renters with an expenditure that would make your eyes water all have similar preferences. Head of sales for a Mayfair estate agent notes “No matter the budget of clients, everyone is always most fascinated in the kitchen and more commonly as a communal area. It can make or break the decision process.”
Here are some key points to keep in mind if a refresh is on the cards.
1.) Don’t Go Over the Top – Don’t let your imagination go too wild. Neutral colour combinations will help the potential renter visualise their belongings in the space and enable a greater range of styles to fit in each room.
2.) Space to Breathe – Getting the most out of your space is one of the hardest aspects of modern housing, but you need to balance this with now having the renter feel like they are being boxed in. Leaving spaces in various corners and distance between major features, such as the shower and toilet can really help these areas feel larger than they are.
3.) Bathroom floor tiles are essential – As technology develops even more realistic laminates and vinyl it is becoming even more popular in the potential ‘wet rooms’ of the house. However, it seems people still have a bug bear on the one room they will probably always be bare-footed. The security and clean feeling of a tile makes a bathroom seem more hygienic and inevitably more inviting.
4.) Grey Is Great – in moderation – it may be the current colour of the month but too much of a dark grey can really make your space look much smaller than it is, but a feature wall can be an eye-catching compromise. Especially in a bathroom, the brighter and whiter a space, the generally more welcoming it is perceived to be.
5.) Bathroom Layout Visually, the sight of a lovely bath, shower or sink is much more aesthetically pleasing than a lavatory. Although this is dependent on plumbing circumstances, the thought of an unsolicited guest in the bathroom while it is in use is a recurring nightmare for almost everyone.
6.) Who do you want to rent your home? – Keeping your dream renter in mind can help you decide on the style and layout for these areas of your house. Ensuring it is alluring to this group will aid your search for renters. Let’s not forget, happy renters make a happy landlord!
It can be hard to find combinations that work easily or designs that you are happy with, it can be even harder finding inspiration that you love that can come in at a reasonable price bracket, unlike this award winning penthouse.
Among other close considerations were, windows based upon noise reduction, and whether the property had an extension or a conservatory. A well-maintained garden was also a large influence on decision making with 26% of potential renters. While the survey is quite light-hearted and interesting to read, it is able to give landlords the edge of their fellow competitors on where to start when considering to ‘rent-ability’ their properties.
