Although spring is the perfect time for your tenants to start enjoying your property’s outdoor spaces again, it’s also the time when people start looking for their next rental. So, whether your tenants are staying in place, or planning to move out soon, spring is the perfect time to freshen things up.
Here are a few suggestions to spruce up your rentals’ exteriors so your tenants can enjoy the space, or prospective tenants can be impressed. These suggestions can also help keep repair costs down as preventive maintenance can avoid costly repairs later as you can be made aware of situations before a major issue arises.
Walk the perimeter
Walk the perimeter of your rental to check for any damage or chipping paint on the sides, windowsills and door frames. Check the outside lights and look for loose wiring or other places where the cold or wet weather may have caused some wear and tear.
Wash the exterior thoroughly
After months of winter weather, your property’s exterior most likely needs a little attention. Pressure washing your walls will whip them back into shape in no time.
Work out the best time to do this with your tenants and be sure to give them plenty of advanced notice. Also, consider hiring a professional if you haven’t operated a pressure washer before.
Check the drainage
While you’re working on the exterior of your rental, check the gutters for debris that may have accumulated over the winter. Clogged rain gutters can become a huge hazard since they could lead to flooding and exterior damage to the home and foundation if not cleared.
Consider washing the exterior of your windows while you’re at it. It’ll save you some time if you’re tenants do move out. Clean windows can be a huge attraction to catch the eye of potential renters when vacant.
Additionally, check the lawn for puddles or other signs of poor drainage. Water should flow away from your rental and its foundation. If this isn’t the case, you’ll need to fix the issue.
It can be as easy as readjusting a gutter spout or as intensive as hiring a professional if pavement is involved. Be sure to address water issues quickly, because it could turn into a much bigger — and much more expensive — issue in the future.
Spruce up the lawn
An aesthetically pleasing lawn requires some tender loving care. After winter, grass is typically brown, and sometimes depending on the winter weather, it can also be soggy, mushy and flat.
First, try raking matted blades to bring them back to life. Then, sprinkle fertilizer for added nutrients. Check your sprinkler system to ensure it will be running effectively once the summer heat arrives. Having it functioning efficiently can make sure that your grass remains hydrated and green through July and August. It is much easier to fix any issues before the weather can then cause grass drying up in the summer. Then you have to fix the sprinkler system and bring your grass back to life.
For even healthier grass, consider calling an aeration service company. Aeration allows water and air to reach the roots of grass faster for a plush-looking lawn.
Bring in some color
While you’re maintaining the lawn, bring some color to your curbside by planting hearty flowers or bulbs for the upcoming season. This will help catch the eyes of prospective renters as they cruise the neighborhood.
It may not be quite warm enough to bring out the flip-flops and lemonade, but taking the above steps can help your rental be ready and looking its best for prime leasing season!
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