While large property management companies don’t give much thought to how comfortable and cosy their rentals appear, for individual landlords the question of making the rental look as close to a new home is very
important. It goes without saying that the photos you post look inviting and impressive, but it’s even more important that your rental looks and feels as good in person. Here is a collection of tips you can use to make
potential tenants say ‘yes’.

Invest in good lighting

Probably the most effective way of transforming dark, unimaginative rooms into cosy inviting spaces. With all the options available today, it’s often hard to make the right choice. However, you should always go with the most effective and long-lasting solution. Although more expensive in the beginning, LED bulbs offer unmatched working hours and power saving. Complement your existing fixtures with a few table or floor lamps to create
a layered lighting.

Paint it anew

This is such an obvious upgrade, but so effective that it deserves to be found on this list. However, it’s not the easiest way, since it requires a bit of planning, preparation and time. Still, the outcome is hard to ignore. Just make sure that the colour scheme you choose complements the existing furniture and the rest of the space. This Apartment Therapy guide recommends using up to three colours . If two are bold the third one should be neutral to give the eye some rest.

Update your curtains

Unfortunately, many landlords fail to see the importance of curtains in a living space. However, curtains one of few things new tenants notice instantly. Similarly to a new coat of paint, they have the ability to change the look instantly. Luckily, there are plenty of cheap, yet attractive fabrics for you to experiment with. Interior designers recommend high curtains for low ceilings and smaller windows, as this layout tricks
the eye in believing the ceiling is higher than it is.

Bring in some rugs

Laid on tiles or hardwood floor, area rugs muffle sounds, provide soft walk and increase the overall cosiness of a room. Less expensive than paintwork, and more tangible than curtains, warm floor rugs can make a rental
really feel like home. Whether you choose viscose for ease of maintenance, or allergen-free natural materials such as sisal, jute or wool, a boldly patterned area rug doesn’t go unnoticed.

It comes natural

No one can resist the charm of nature, even in a rented place. There are many affordable plants that are ideal for apartment dwellers , such as aloe, rubber tree or English ivy. These plants require little watering and can withstand weeks of neglect without losing their freshness and shape. Snake plant or Sansevieria trifasciata is ideal for people with no experience with house plants, while they are known to purify indoor air by removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.

Cater to all senses

While there’s a good chance your rental doesn’t come with a fireplace, there are still ways to increase warmth and cosiness with candles. Play it dirty and light scented candles in specific rooms such as dining area or
bathroom before the potential tenants arrive and they will hardly be able to resist the lure of the place. Alternatively you can burn incense or, if you’re not comfortable with leaving open flame unattended, use remotely
controlled fake candle lights which look incredibly realistic.

Make bathroom inviting

You’ll instantly see the difference once your place cheap thin towels with as set of thick fluffy ones. If your rental leans to rustic décor, a decorative ladder from Etsy can become a useful towel holder. Span the bathtub with a wooden DIY bath tray and the tenants will quickly visualize a glass or red and their favourite evening book on it. Finally, throw in a few frosted glass bottles for bath products and your bathroom style will jump through the roof.

With so many rental ads about, every little trick helps. However the most effective ones are those which cost little money and can be done without that beats the cost of rent.

by Lillian Connors