A.D. Cantelmo Property Management
Our Business is Property Management in Orange County California
How important is curb appeal to my rental property
We all like things that look nice
and we want to live in a home that also looks nice, so the easy answer when the
question comes up about curb appeal, is that curb appeal is important. The
real question is, what should a Landlord do and more important, how much should a
Landlord spend to give their property curb appeal.
7 ways to improve curb appeal
1. Painting
Painting the home is the number one way to
spruce up the curb appeal of a home. Painting is also a very important way to protect
the exterior of the home from the elements. If the paint on the exterior of
your property is well maintained, it may not be the reason someone rents your
home, but it will not be a reason for someone not to rent your property.
2. Garage door
The next thing that will help the
curb appeal of your home is a new garage door. If your garage is in the front
of the home, it is going to be one of the first things that people see and if
it is falling apart, it will make the rest of the home look shabby. A new door
can vary in price, depending on what you are looking for, but if you shop
around, you can get a bottom line 16’ door that looks very nice for under
$1000. The thing about a garage door is if it works well, no one thinks about
it, but if it does not work well, it can not only be an eye sore, but it can
also be a hazard.
3. Landscaping
The landscaping in the front of a home is also a great way to improve
the appeal of the home, but this could get expensive depending on how big your
front yard is and how it is configured. The best thing to do on a rental
property is to try and make the yard a low maintenance yard. Using different
types of palms and low maintenance plants and ground cover not only looks
great, but is very low maintenance. But if you have grass, then I would suggest
using a gardener and putting the price in the rent if possible. If the grass in
the front yard is dead or patchy, it takes away from other more positive area's of the home.
4.Windows
The windows are also a great way to improve
the look and appeal of the home, but this is an expensive way to improve the
curb appeal. New windows not only look great, but when a window does not work
well, it can be frustrating and nice new windows open and close easily. As nice
as new windows are, if the money is not there, then this is not a priority.
Putting trim around old windows can help.
5. Front door
Your front door is very important to making a good impression. Make sure
the door is well painted and the hardware on the door works well. If you have a
porch, then make the porch inviting, put some nice chairs or benches and some
hanging plants. Everyone likes to sit on a porch and this could be a very nice
place to relax.
6. Lighting
Landscape lighting can also be a nice addition
to the curb appeal of a home. When people see the home at night, the lighting
will make the home standout, and lights can emphasize certain areas of the yard
that you want to showcase. A well lit yard can also serve as a safety feature.
7. Roof
I put the roof
last, because it is a major expense and if it does not leak, then there is no
need to replace it. But if you are in need of a new roof, then that will give the front of
your home a great look and more than anything else, a healthy roof protects
your entire home.
These 7 ways to improve the curb
appeal of your rental property can help, but just because your home looks good
from the outside will not guarantee your home rents for the price you want. The
curb appeal of your home is just one part of making your home appealing to potential
Tenants and may not be the most important. The big reason to make sure your
home is pleasing to the eye, is that you don’t want the look of your home to
keep potential Tenants away. If money is an issue, then do the best you can and
pick one or two items on the list to concentrate on, but don’t fret, as I
always say, every property will rent, or sell at a certain price.
A.D. Cantelmo Property
Management Specializes in
Property Management in Orange County Ca