When it comes to refurbishing a property before letting it out the bottom line is, if you wouldn’t be prepared to live in it yourself, then it probably isn’t up to the correct standard. Here at Northwood Wirral we do have high standards as to what an acceptable, refurbished property looks like. Not only does this benefit a tenant but this also benefits the landlord because if you’ve made the best out of your property then we can take over and have the best chance of getting your property to its full potential. A few licks of paint and a once round with the hoover is not refurbishing a property. Refurbishing a property is cleaning every part of the house, fixing everything that needs to be fixed and making sure the décor is up to scratch. Most landlords don’t recognise how much actually goes into refurbishing a property, and sometimes it does differ slightly between the different letting agents. But for the most part it’s the same, so here’s what we expect.
The basics!
Regardless of all the different factors that go into refurbishing a property you need to understand that the better condition you let it out in, the better condition that the tenant is likely to keep it in. If a tenant can see that you have taken care of the property and put a lot of effort into refurbishing it then they are more likely to keep it in this same condition throughout the time that they live there.
Not only does it motivate the tenant to keep it up to your standards, but it also allows us to rent it quicker. A clean, tidy property is bound to rent quicker for two reasons:
· The first reason being is that once we have looked round your property we can start the process straight away without having to point out anything that needs altering.
· The second point is that the most up to scratch properties always get more attention from prospective tenants, simply because they are more attractive.
What do you need to do?
Maintenance is a big part of the refurb because this is one of the most crucial roles to fulfil when being a landlord. Everything needs to be in order, maintenance wise, before letting the property out as this is your role. The tenant has the role of keeping everything in order in terms of cleanliness. Any plumbing, heating, electric or general parts of the house should be repaired if they need it and thoroughly cleaned. Some examples of this would be replacing taps, fixing radiator leaks, unblocking drains, and any work needed for locks, chimneys or damp.
Kitchens and bathrooms are a huge part of refurbishing a property as there is a lot to consider. Both have to be neutral colours and include the following required elements. Bathrooms must have a shower over a bath to ensure a shower is available and not just a bath with a shower screen rather than a shower curtain. On the other hand, kitchens must include an oven, hob, extractor fan, as cooking facilities, however preferably not a free standing cooker.
Décor is something that landlords often think isn’t very important, but on the contrary it is a main factor of the refurb. The décor is the personality of a property and everyone has different personalities. For this reason we expect all décor to be neutral, for example white or magnolia paint on the walls. This is because we want the tenant to view your property in its simplest form so they can imagine themselves in it. Think of it as an onion, stripping back all the layers to see its full potential clearly! All floors need to have some form of flooring on them whether it be carpet or wooden floors, if you don’t want to spend too much money, vinyl flooring is a perfect substitute and looks just as good!
Once your property is nearly ready for viewing, it will need a good clean! Here at Northwood Wirral we do our best to work to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) which is a system that underpins the amount of cleanliness and maintenance work that needs to be done, whilst including basic presentation. From skirting boards to showerheads, everything must be prim and proper to show off your property! Carpets, other flooring (vinyl or wood), bathrooms, kitchens and additional rooms need deep cleans to ensure they look as if it is a brand new property.
Gardens!
Although gardens aren’t inside the property you still need to make sure they are up to standard! Just cutting the grass won’t do either! Of course cutting the grass has a part to play but many other things come into play as well. Before letting the property out the garden needs to be just as perfect as the property. Once the property is let however, the general gardening, such as, mowing the lawn, weeding, and cleaning the leaves is left up to the tenant. But anything over 6”ft tall, such as trees or cleaning moss and leaves from gutters, does rely on the landlord to fulfil.
Good luck!
With all that in mind make sure the property is the best it can be to get the quickest, most reliable tenant! Try not to cut corners to speed up the process as it will only create complications for you further down the line. So, good luck and get going, those properties wont clean themselves!
Written by Lauren Jones.
