When you’re showing your rental apartments to prospective tenants, you’re presenting them with a picture of their future home. Although renting an apartment means freedom and flexibility, it’s still a big commitment and your potential renter will want to feel at home. That’s why you should prepare the apartment and give it a homey vibe before each visit.
To make the best first impression, make sure you cover all of the main aspects and show a clean, functional, comfortable, and beautiful apartment the renters will love. In particular, here’s what you should focus on:
Cleaning
After your previous tenant has vacated the unit, bring in a cleaning crew to deep clean the apartment. They should be able to remove any stains and odors and freshen up the apartment, in general. If there are more serious issues—such as holes in the walls or other damage—make sure to repair them before showing the apartment to the next prospect.
Furthermore, if you want to give the rental that new apartment feel, focus on cleaning areas such as windows, corners of rooms and appliances. The kitchen and the bathroom should be spotless, and by polishing the appliances and fixtures, these rooms will shine.
Functionality
It’s difficult to know what kind of lifestyle your prospective tenant has and whether the apartment you are showing will suit it. Therefore, emphasize the functionality of the apartment by making sure the appliances, plumbing, lights, windows, and locks are all working properly. If there are any problems, call a specialist to fix them before the showing.
Once those are taken care of, check all potential safety and security concerns, from smoke detectors to wiring and outlets. Also, ensure that there aren’t any faulty or quirky appliances in the apartment, either. For instance, if the microwave only works half the time and the fridge doesn’t always close all the way, replace them with fully functional units.
Comfort
Comfort is often difficult to mimic in an uninhabited apartment. However, it’s important to present the rental in its best condition, which means it should be full of light and set to the right temperature, as well as have a pleasant smell. The time of day and/or year may also influence how you show the apartment; for example, you might rely more on natural light during summer by leaving the windows uncovered as opposed to turning on artificial lights in the winter.
The same goes for temperature, which you should adjust accordingly for a pleasant transition. In the summer, you can even leave the windows open prior to the showing to fill the apartment with fresh air. Conversely, during the winter, brew some hot cinnamon water or hot chocolate to fill the space with a pleasant, homey fragrance.
Aesthetics
This area is very much dependent on whether you’re renting a furnished or unfurnished unit. If the apartment is empty, it might be easier for the tenant to picture bringing their own furniture and styling it according to their personal preferences. However, others may find it easier to imagine living in the apartment if it’s furnished. Either way, consider staging some areas—even with rented furniture—to give them an idea of how the apartment might look with their belongings.
Additionally, select versatile colors for the unit’s walls and curtains so they will easily integrate with whatever color scheme the tenant chooses. But, don’t add any decorations that are too specific or personal. The entire apartment is the star of the show; the rest of the items are simply there to make it shine.
Lastly, make sure you know that particular unit and its selling points. Then, highlight the practical amenities that are sure to convince the renter—such as walk-in closets, in-unit laundry, or storage space. Essentially, paint a picture of what it would be like for them to live there by exploring the views from the apartment, showcasing each room, and discussing the neighborhood and what they can do there. You can even ask the prospective tenants what they’re looking for and find a solution inside the apartment.
Each tenant is looking for something different, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for most situations. Cover as much as possible, highlight all of the apartment’s best aspects and renters are sure to fall in love with the space.
About the author: Mihaela Buzec is a passionate reader and writer with an affinity for language and linguistics, as well as the latest technological developments. She discovered her passion for real estate at RENTCafé, and you can read more of her articles on their blog.
