Rental property updates are a must, but you can get a jump on when the best time is to do the work.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a vacant rental property to do the updates, that’s a huge advantage. Getting a property ready in late winter means you’ll have time to make some inexpensive changes and have it ready to show by early spring.
Vacancy is a good time to make adjustments to kitchens and bathrooms that usually requires workers to be in the home for a few days. Projects like upgrading lighting fixtures, swapping out the washer and dryer and changing outdated toilets are easy and less-expensive options that can add value to the rental property.
Appliances that cost less when you buy them in the fall or winter months include washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, ranges, ovens, and air conditioners. Just a bit of shopping around will help you find bargains that won’t be there when spring arrives.
While exterior renovations such as painting or flooring might seem difficult to do in late winter, getting exterior renovations completed makes less work come springtime. Besides the winter months seem to be less cold due to global warming.
If your area is milder than most in late winter, go ahead and get those gutters cleaned out. The leaves and debris that accumulates in winter can be surprising. That gives you another jump on doing the job in the spring.
Give Upgrades a Spring Break
Late winter can be the ideal time for planting certain shrubs and flowers. Many favorite early springtime flowers are bulbs. Crocuses, hyacinths, and snowdrops are the first to burst from the thawing ground of winter. Many daffodils bloom in late winter or early spring as well. Azaleas, lilacs, and forsythia do very well when planted in late winter/early spring. Simple landscaping, with trimmed lawn, clean gutters, and removal of fallen branches help to impress new tenants.
Small Upgrades Deliver Big Appeal
Even small upgrades can often make a big difference in the look and feel of a property and tend to attract high-quality tenants.
- Flooring, for instance sounds like a huge job and certainly it can be depending on how much you want to invest. However, one of the most popular flooring choices today is luxury vinyl plank which comes in a variety of options and is known to be particularly durable and water resistant. Putting in new flooring can not only refresh the look of a home, but also make it feel more comfortable. If you’re inclined to DIY projects, you can save even more money on flooring.
- Painting an entire home can get pricey, but upgrading the paint in just a few areas that need it most can really make a difference. A fresh coat of paint to baseboards and door frames can really refresh the interior. Other easy paint upgrades to consider are painting an accent wall or whitewashing a brick fireplace.
Kitchen cabinets can be refreshed with a simple paint job and new hardware.Though this project can be time consuming with cleaning, sanding, priming, and multiple coats of paint, it is an overall inexpensive upgrade that will make a world of difference.
Light fixtures can completely change the feel of a room, either making it feel cold and industrial or warm and inviting. Simple light fixture changes can make a room look much more modern and these days inexpensive fixtures can be found easily at home improvement stores or online.
- Ceiling fans are very popular. If the property doesn’t have them, consider installing some in the bedrooms and main living area. Tenants love them, but if you’ve never done such an upgrade, hiring a local electrician for a few hours to install everything properly is best and safest.
- Backsplashes can transform a kitchen and a stove. For a budget project installing something like subway tiles will not only improve the space, but add an extra layer of protection to your walls.
- Bathrooms can look newer and more spacious with some small changes. New toilet seats and bathroom hardware are inexpensive.
All in all, you can do as much updating as possible in the moderate, late winter months and have your property shining with new tenant appeal by springtime. Or, if you simply don’t have time to get it all done, call Cousin James Management and let our expert professional contractors get it done fast and affordably.
Get in touch with Cousin James Management and let us help you get a head start on updates now so you can be ready for new tenants in the spring.
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