Website design By BotEap.comWith so many ordinary people investing in buy-to-let, how do you get the advantage of renting out your property? While you may not get a higher rental return on a really well presented and furnished property, you can ensure that you get a better quality of tenant and reduce your empty periods in what is becoming a very competitive market.

Website design By BotEap.comI did some research on how to finish and furnish your rental property to help you achieve the best return on your investment.

Website design By BotEap.comHow should you decorate your investment?

Website design By BotEap.comIt’s long been a known fact that you need to decorate your investment with neutral colors. After all, neutrals are less offensive to people than strong color schemes AND will match anything they bring onto the property.

Website design By BotEap.comBut how do you make the neutral durable once your tenants have moved out?

Website design By BotEap.comTenants may not take as much care of your rental property as you would like. With all that coming and going as tenants move in and then leave with all their worldly possessions, it’s no surprise that décor needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the bumps and knocks that are an inevitable part of buying to let life. like an owner.

Website design By BotEap.comUsing a lot of magnolia paint will certainly keep your costs down, but try using a silk finish instead of the usual matte option. This way you can clean the walls between leases without needing a complete renovation. By using highly durable paints, your walls and doors will stand up to all those bumps and knocks that will inevitably occur once a tenant moves out. High-durability paints contain latex or acrylic and will reduce the amount of repair work you need to do to keep the property in good shape for as long as possible. Water-based acrylics also dry much faster than regular paints, so they can really speed up the job so your property isn’t sitting vacant for as long.

Website design By BotEap.comColors that ‘sell’ and colors that don’t!

Website design By BotEap.comWhite can appear too cold and clinical in an unfurnished living space and should only be used in bathrooms, where cleanliness is paramount. Use softer tones in the living and sleeping areas and contrast with soft furnishings to take the hard edge off cool colors. Warmer pale yellows, soft beiges, and off-whites work best.

Website design By BotEap.comBut please use white on all woodwork and ceilings.

Website design By BotEap.comStaying within a budget is important when preparing a buy-to-let property if you want to maximize your budget. The Paint Quality Institutes website includes a calculator to help you estimate the amount of paint required for the job, and you can compare the different costs of different paint options.

Website design By BotEap.comWe have made the walls. What about the floors?

Website design By BotEap.comDepending on the market your buy-to-let property is targeting will determine which floor coverings to choose. These are my best tips:

Website design By BotEap.comFor high-end property or family home

1. Good quality rug in a medium tone colour. Don’t look too pale. The idea here is that a good quality carpet can be professionally cleaned between leases. In fact, many property management companies will include a carpet cleaning service as part of their management fee.
2. Good quality laminate or hardwood floors. These can work very well in apartments or family houses in the living space. Carpets are still the favorite in the sleeping space.

Website design By BotEap.comFor the lower bound property:

1. A lower-quality, more cost-effective carpet may be a better alternative. Budget to replace these rugs every 2 years. They do not survive as well after industrial cleaning as a better quality carpet would.
2. Laminate may work in some areas, but carpet is cheaper and lasts better than cheaper laminate. Again, inexpensive laminate can start to look bad after a couple of years.

Website design By BotEap.comFor all properties: DO NOT use rugs in wet areas. Use ceramic tile in high-end property OR padded flooring in low-end property. It is much more cost effective AND durable and is what people are looking for. Carpet in humid areas gets soggy, smelly, and dirty very quickly.

Website design By BotEap.comFurniture and Furnishings?

Website design By BotEap.comYou have the correct paint on the walls and the floor is fixed. Now, should you furnish? What is enough? Which is the minimum?

Website design By BotEap.comOwners of buy-to-let properties have a couple of options when it comes to furnishing their property.

Website design By BotEap.comIt is true that if you provide it, you have to replace it in case it gets damaged. That said, for potential tenants working on temporary contracts, providing furniture can be a godsend AND they’ll be happy to pay a bit more if it’s an option.

Website design By BotEap.comEven if you don’t intend to leave the property furnished, getting furniture to market the property can improve your chances of getting a quicker rental AND a better quality of tenant.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is the password?

Website design By BotEap.comPutting the basics you can define each room. This is what is needed for key living and sleeping spaces.

• Living room: sofas, side tables
• Dining room/living room: table and chairs
• Bedroom: bed and nightstands

Website design By BotEap.comIf you’re targeting the student or office worker as your primary tenants, you may want to invest in a desk and chairs for an area or room to show how perfect it is for them to meet their study or work needs.

Website design By BotEap.comYou can also decide to buy white appliances for the kitchen. Kitchen, fridge, and washing machine tend to be the bare minimum here.

Website design By BotEap.comLook for sofas that are a durable color with washable covers. Look for beds of reasonable quality. Don’t spend a fortune because you’ll need to replace them every two years, but don’t go too cheap for everyday items or you’ll need to replace them much sooner.

Website design By BotEap.comFire safety regulations: what is required?

Website design By BotEap.comBeginning in 1997, all furnishings in the rental unit must meet fire safety standards.

Website design By BotEap.comHow to make sure all your furniture and fixtures meet current safety standards.

Website design By BotEap.comDo not buy or use second-hand furniture if the items are more than 8 years old. Most likely they will not comply. Since it is now a crime for a retailer to sell non-compliant items, he should not find non-compliant items in stores if he buys new. All items will have permanent tags, so if in doubt, look them up. DO NOT remove these labels. It’s also a good idea to keep all of your receipts as proof of purchase from the retailer.

Website design By BotEap.comAs a novice you should be aware that failure to comply with these fire safety regulations is a criminal offense and the penalty for failure to comply may include a £5,000 fine for non-compliance and a possible 6 month jail term. If that wasn’t enough, his homeowners insurance would be invalidated and the tenant could sue him for damages in civil court.

Website design By BotEap.comThere are a number of companies that can provide everything you need to furnish your property. These folks really know what they’re doing, so make sure you have one of them on your team of experts.