Basics of Property Management: Screening Potential Tenants

3 Easy Ways To Update Your Rental To Attract Higher-Qualified Tenants

24 April 2015

Jesse Obrien

Are you looking for easy ways to spruce up your rental apartment so it appeals to higher-qualified tenants? If so, consider making these three inexpensive improvements to your rental while it's still vacant between tenants.  

1. Replace Tired Floor Tiles

Aging floor tiles will make an entire kitchen or bathroom look dingy. If you really want to attract the right tenant who will maintain high standards in the upkeep of your rental apartment, replace those tired, old floor tiles with new ones. You don't need to make a huge investment in professionally installed flooring if you simply install your own vinyl or linoleum tiles.

Vinyl or linoleum tiles with self-stick backing are a great option for rental homes for a number of reasons, including:

• These tiles can often be installed directly over your existing floor.
• They are easy to cut down to size with a box cutter or blade.
• Individual tiles can be replaced without installing a whole new floor.
• Linoleum or vinyl tiles are inexpensive and durable.

Although they are self-stick tiles, it's still a good idea to use floor adhesive with them so they last longer without lifting or shifting.

2. Freshen Up Bathroom and Kitchen Fixtures

Even if your rental has older fixtures (e.g. bathtub, toilet, sink, etc.), there are ways to modernize them without incurring the cost of completely replacing them. As long as the fixtures function as they should, you can easily update them with fresh visible parts, such as new faucet handles, toilet seat or shower head. Most tenants won't mind renting an apartment with older fixtures if they look nice and work properly.

3. Install Permanent Hardware for Window Treatments

High tenant turnover can wreak havoc on your wooden window frames as tenants haphazardly hang their own hardware for blinds, shades and curtains. Over time, the corners of the frames can become riddled with damage from multiple nail and screw holes. Once you've filled in the holes and repaired the damage, the last thing you want is for tenants to start pounding new holes in your woodwork.

Avoid this mess by installing your own permanent hardware for window treatments. Most prospective tenants will see permanent hardware for curtain rods and blinds as a bonus because, let's face it, window treatment hardware is a pain to install.

These three easy updates can often be accomplished in a weekend or so. Although it means you may need to take the apartment listing off the rental market for a few days, in the long run, you'll likely attract better-qualified, long-term tenants. Real estate companies like Sterling Realty will also have an easier time finding people who are willing to rent your apartment.

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