I was having a chat with a ‘do it yourself’ landlord in
Penicuik the other week and she was bemoaning the fact that she was finding it
really hard to get one particularly property of hers rented out. I had to be honest with her and say that we
are finding that rental properties are flying off the shelves at the moment
which has increased prices – one bed flats are now doing for £575 when last year
you were lucky to get £525 for them – so I wondered whether the property that
she was renting was the problem rather than the market.
At this point, she had to confess that she
had wondered about getting the property re-decorated as it was looking a bit
tired but has hoped that she could get away without doing this .... well,
perhaps not I said as politely as I could!
Investing in your rental property is key to maintaining a
successful investment, which is why a fresh coat of paint is a great way to increase
the tenant demand and rental income. Here
are our tips to help you successfully paint your rental property.
Use
Simple Colours
Paint using simple neutral colours like magnolia, cream,
beige, grey, and off-white, as these colours don’t outdate and are attractive
to most people. Picking paint colours
outside the neutral colour scheme that are on sale or that you personally like
runs the risk of you painting colours some tenants may be turned-off by,
potentially lowering demand towards your property.
Use
Light Colours To Open Up The Room
Keep the colours light and neutral to help open up the
rooms. The tenant’s furniture also has a
better chance of fitting into the property’s colour scheme when neutral, bright
colours are used continuously throughout the property, helping make your
property more attractive. We see some
properties painted white throughout, making them look light and uplifting, and
it’s an economic way of redecorating.
Use
Good Quality Products and Contractors
Avoid the temptation of buying cheap paint, because this
generally chips easily and won’t last as long as good quality paint. Before long you’ll have to repaint the
property, making cheap paint only a short-term solution to increasing demand
and rent. Not only that, the appearance
will look increasingly poor, which lowers the appeal, tenant quality and rent.
If you are getting somebody in to paid your property, use
a quality contractors that has been recommended to you – they may cost you a
wee bit more initially but the job that they do is likely to be better and last
for longer saving you money in the long run.
How
To Cover Up Imperfections
If the wall surface is imperfect pick, a paint with a mid
or low sheen, as the finish will help hide this. Paint also offers the opportunity to repair
imperfections using ready mix fillers, making paint a good choice if your Penicuik
investment property has damaged walls.
When
Not To Paint
To avoid a patchy finish, try not to paint when it’s
really hot so the paint doesn’t dry too fast. Also avoid painting when it’s raining, as the
paint won’t be able to cure in wet conditions, causing its longevity to likely
be affected.
Careful
Masking
Aim for the best quality job. Ensure areas that aren’t being painted are
carefully covered with masking tape to avoid the appearance of a cheap job. Light and power switches or their covers
should be removed, and carpet and flooring should be carefully covered.
I am happy to give you my thoughts on decorating, to
recommend a good decorator to you or even to recommend a good type of paint to
you! I can be contacted on 01968 674601
or news@thekeyplace.co.uk;
alternatively pop into my office at 6 Bank Street, Penicuik.
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