We’re all familiar with the importance of “curb appeal” when selling a home, but this important rule applies to rental properties as well. Did you know that many prospective tenants decide whether to take up a lease or pass the opportunity based on how the apartment complex looks from the outside from the street? This means that even before you list the property for rent online, you need to freshen up the exterior so that the photographs make a great first impression.
You’ve made sure that the apartment blocks look polished from nook to cranny but in order to get those feet through the door, you’ll need to make some time working on the building’s appearance.
Landlords often turn a blind eye to things that stand out as a negative. The key is to put yourself in the tenant’s shoes and ask yourself, is this a place where you want to raise a family or invite friends over? If the answer is “no” or “maybe”, then it’s time you make some exterior improvements to keep you in a position to ask the best price possible.
Wash the windows
The windows may not be the first thing people notice about a huge apartment complex, but with smaller rental properties they can be a standout feature of the exteriors. Dull and dirty windows will make the property appear old, shabby, and less-than-homely. To get sparkling windows, wash the panes to remove dust and streaks, and scrub the frames to get rid of mould and mildew.
Remove bird droppings
Wherever pigeons or seagulls land on your property, they’ll most likely leave behind a mess of excrement. As well as being an eyesore, the corrosive nature of bird droppings can damage your property. They can also present a number of health risks. While it’s impossible to remove droppings every day, regularly cleaning the most affected areas outside where there’s a build-up of faeces, can keep the space looking neat.
Clean up the walkways
Leaves, rubbish, sand, soil, weed, and cigarette butts can clutter walkways. The last thing you’d want is a prospective tenant having a hard time walking up to your property, so it’s best to sweep, scrub or power wash all exterior concrete surfaces before visitors arrive.
Remove garbage
The only time it should be acceptable to have rubbish out in front is on garbage day. Make sure the front yard is clear of plastic bags or municipal rubbish bins. Keep these in a separate area at the back where current tenants can dump their disposals.
Pick up dead leaves and fallen branches.
Whether it’s the aftermath of a storm or a seasonal transition, all fallen branches and leaves should be cleared from walkways and driveways to prevent accidents and walking difficulty as well as the garden to make the landscaping look tidy.
A neat and beautiful looking exterior shows potential tenants that the place they’ll call home has been taken care of for their convenience. More than this, it creates a place that is comforting and welcoming; an environment that people can look forward to returning. Many tenants give preference to apartments that are move-in ready, so if the property you’re renting doesn’t need any exterior work, you may have better luck filling empty apartments.
On a concluding note, it’s important to know which tasks you can handle on your own and which ones you should leave to the professionals. Or if you simply don’t have the time to take on cleaning duties, let our professional apartment cleaning services in Cape Town help you set up a plan of action for an improved curb appeal.