Top 5 Tips on How to Show a Vacant Rental Property

How do you know if your vacant rental property is really attracting the largest applicant pool possible? Just because your space is empty doesn’t necessarily mean it will rent faster (though that does help); it HAS to show well. Whether you’re a first time landlord or you’ve shown vacant rental properties over a dozen times, you can’t escape the fact that you must do everything you can to entice prospective tenants. Below are some simple tips on how to show a vacant rental property professionally…. and it all starts before they even walk through the door.

1. Maintain Landscaping

Remember that potential tenants are looking at your rental property to make their new home. From the moment they step foot out of their car, your curb appeal should be inviting; the littlest things can make the biggest impact on a renter’s decision. Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well-watered and clear of loose leaves and grass cuttings. In the warmer months, add a splash of vibrancy and color with flowers to create a favorable first impression. And in the winter, always have your driveway, sidewalks and front stoop shoveled.

Safety is an another important consideration of a home with well-maintained curb appeal. If your vacant home has overgrown grass, weed filled flower beds, or two feet of snow on the driveway, this can portray nobody is around to care for the home, making it an easy target for potential break-ins or vandalism.

Look at your vacant property from the renter’s perspective – as if you were seeing your home for the first time; take an extra step to add a touch of beauty and inspire tranquility. Never underestimate the power of curb appeal.

2. Get It Clean. Really Clean.

We’re talking shiny wood floors, professionally cleaned carpets (or new) and stone floor cleaning. Clean floors will not only look great, but will also help to freshen up the home and remove any odors like those from pets or smoke. If odors are still a concern, replace your A/C filters, get air ducts cleaned and check for mold in hidden spots (like under sinks and behind the toilet). During showings, crack open the windows to let some fresh air circulate inside as well.

Next, it’s time to turn your attention to your ceiling fan. The tops of ceiling fan blades are one of the biggest culprits that hoard dust in your home. The last thing your tenant wants is to be showered by dust when they turn on the fan for the first time!

Try this simple cleaning hack: Hook an old pillow case over one of the fins of the ceiling fan, hold the end and slide it along the fin. The pillow case traps all the dust and when you’re done you can take it outside, turn it inside out, shake it clean and wash it as usual.

And finally, a classic tip to make any home smell inviting is to bake some sort of sweet treat before the showing. Besides, who doesn’t like a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies?

3. From the Windows… to the Walls

Okay.. okay, bad joke. We won’t continue with the rest the lyrics, we promise. But seriously. Clean the window (inside and out) and freshen up the walls. Windows should be clear of finger prints, water spots and streaks. Also, make sure they’re easy to open and shut, which means the window tracks may need to cleaned out.

When it comes to the walls, remove markings (yes, even your children’s precious growth chart), wipe light switch plates and door handles and remove dust from the ceiling and floor trim. A fresh coat of paint also works wonders to make a home look and smell brand new and entice renters! It’s relatively inexpensive and the job is much easier when the home is vacant. When picking a color to paint, think neutral to help rooms appear warm and spacious.

4. Maintain A Reasonable Temperature

Though nobody’s home, it’s still important to keep your vacant home at a reasonable temperature for showings. If it’s one of the warmest days of the summer and over 85 degrees inside your home, a potential tenant may be so uncomfortable that they cannot focus on actually looking at your home.

And in the winter, it’s critical you keep all utilities on to prevent frozen pipes when temperatures fall below freezing. Maintain a reasonable temperature (between 50-60 degrees) to ensure the pipes do not freeze but also that your energy bills aren’t astronomical.

5. Let Them Look Around- Alone

As we established with curb appeal, it is often said that you’ll never get a chance to create a good first impression. This also holds true when initially meeting potential tenants. Put them at ease simply by having a friendly and professional demeanor.

But then after you meet your tenants and give them a tour of the vacant property, let them have some time to walk around the rental house by themselves. A few minutes alone can be very powerful. This will allow your potential tenants to have some time to formulate any other questions they may have for you and envision themselves living in your rental property.

Know How to Show a Vacant Rental Property Professionally

It’s no secret that to increase the chances of getting the highest number of renters interested in your home, you need to show it well. If you present yourself and your property professionally, not only will you rent the space faster and possibly for more money, but have a better chance to attract more tenants.

Because the more potential applicants that you have, the better chance you’ll have of finding the right renter.