Attracting tenants is more complicated than ever in the current Los Angeles rental market. If you want to earn as much as you can on your investment and find, place, and retain high-quality residents, you’ll have to take some strategic steps. One thing you can do to make your property more competitive is to focus on upgrades and updates that will really help your rental stand out.
There’s no need to invest in a full renovation, which would be expensive and time-consuming. However, before you market your property, consider these cost-effective improvements that will drive up its appeal.
Fixtures are Inexpensive and Attention-Grabbing
Start with the easy pieces when it comes to making upgrades. For example, replacing a basic shower head with a rain shower head will only cost around $10. However, it will definitely grab the attention of prospective tenants who enjoy a nice shower.
You can change out the knobs on cupboards and cabinets as well as drawer pulls in the kitchen and bathroom. When older hardware is switched out for something new and shiny, there’s a positive effect on the entire room. Consider a new mirror over the sink in the bathroom and even new switch plates over the light switches throughout the house. These minor and inexpensive updates will make the entire property look more modern. The little things can often make a big difference.
Curb Appeal Counts in Attracting Los Angeles Tenants
It’s definitely a good idea to invest in some curb appeal upgrades. This is often your potential tenant’s first impression of the property, and you want to give them a reason to be impressed. There are several low-cost ways to improve your curb appeal, including:
Power washing the exterior. This will remove all cobwebs, dust, debris, and leaves, giving your property a clean and welcoming exterior. You can power wash the walkways, driveways, and parking lots as well.
Paying attention to the landscaping. This is especially important for single-family homes. Make sure the lawn is mowed and the bushes and trees are trimmed. In multi-family properties, you want clean landscaping and an absence of trash bins and clutter.
Paint the front door. This will really make your property stand out, and the fresh paint will make everything outside look better.
Lay down a new welcome mat. This tiny detail will make your home more inviting, and it will also keep the floors in your property cleaner during the showing process.
Whether it’s a driveway, garage, carport, or parking lot – make sure that area is clean, well-lit, and easy to navigate as well.
Painting Full Walls vs. Touching Up
New paint is an important part of renting out a home, whether it’s going on the Los Angeles rental market for the first time or you’re preparing it for a new tenant. No one wants to rent a home with scratched, faded, or chipped paint on the walls.
Complete paint jobs look much better than touch-ups. If you have professional painters coming over anyway, it might be a good idea to paint the entire house. This is a worthy upgrade that’s cost-effective and always noticed by tenants.
Investing in minor upgrades will help you attract good tenants quickly. If you’d like some help with this process or anything related to Los Angeles property management, please contact us at EGL Properties.