Three Often-Overlooked Factors That Will Deter Potential Residents From Leasing An Apartment
If you're trying to rent out an apartment, you probably know that freshly painting it, having the carpet cleaned, and ensuring the appliances are in good working order are important steps to make sure potential residents find the place appealing. Sometimes, however, residents may turn down a place for reasons you overlooked. Here's an overview of three often-overlooked factors that may turn potential residents off from a place and what you can do about them.
Musty, Dusty Odors
If a place has been vacant for a while, it may take on a bit of a musty odor, just because the doors and windows have not been opened regularly to let the place air out. Potential residents may mistake this musty odor for the smell of mold and may not want to rent the place for fear that there is hidden mold that may impact their health.
Try ridding a place of a musty odor by visiting daily to open the windows for a while and let the place air out. Make sure that if you get the carpets cleaned or have any other cleaning done, you turn on an exhaust fan or open the windows to encourage moisture to dry up quickly so it does not contribute to the growth of mold or a musty odor. If a place does sit for a while before you find a tenant, vacuum it regularly and wipe down the surfaces so that the dust smell does not have time to accumulate.
Messy Paint Jobs
Landlords (and their painting crews) often figure that since the renters probably won't be in the place for more than a few years, and it will be re-painted again at the end of their lease anyways, there's no need to do a perfect job when painting. However, potential residents may spot some splashy or uneven paint and assume that if the paint job is careless, the rest of the building maintenance may be, too. Plus, potential residents are thinking about the place being their home – they want to have friends over without apologizing for a bad paint job! Make sure your painters do a professional job, avoiding spills and splatters, and you'll have an easier time finding tenants.
A Lack of Storage
When living in an apartment, storage space is very important. If tenants sense that a place does not have enough storage space to meet their needs, they'll move on. Even if your unit does not have excessive closet space, there are a few ways to make it obvious that plenty of storage is available:
- Add a shelf or two to the wall in the bathroom
- Add shelving above the refrigerator or stove in the kitchen
- Ensure that any linen closets or utility closets are equipped with shelves and rods so residents can use them for multiple types of storage as needed.
None of the tips above are difficult to implement. By following them, you'll ensure that potential residents don't say "no" to the place for reasons you could have avoided. Communicate with other property management owners, like ABC Property Managers Inc, for more tips and information.
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