The two golden rules when making alterations, refurbishing or simply decorating property in order to rent it, are as follows:
1) KNOW YOUR MARKET
2) NEVER GET TOO PERSONAL

The importance of knowing your market

Who are likely to be your tenants? Young professionals? Students? Single people? Families? All these groups tend to have different priorities when searching for their ideal rental property.

Decor is likely to be pretty important to young professionals, who will be wanting to impress work colleagues, girlfriends, boyfriends etc. So it is worth ensuring that your flat or house is decorated in a stylish and contemporary style to attract this kind of tenant.

Students are a whole different kettle of fish, or more likely bag of pizzas and takeaways. They are looking for space rather than style. If for instance you have a two up two down terraced house then it's a good idea to convert if possible the front downstairs reception to create a three bedroom house to maximise your rent. Obviously you should ensure that you just put in basic hardwearing items into a student property, being prepared to redecorate at the end of each tenancy if necessary. Wood laminate floors are a great idea for all rental properties as they are pretty hardwearing. When it comes to furnishing a student property make sure that any sofas etc have removable and easy to clean covers.

Families will be looking for child friendly environments, so avoid open staircases without handrails. If you are in the stages of installing new electric points position them at waist height (this is actually part of new building regulations).

Avoid getting too personal

One of the commonest mistakes some new landlords make is to decorate a property as if it were somewhere they were going to live themselves. Never ever overspend. That £20000.00 gorgeous designer kitchen won't get you any more rent, unless of course you are trying to attract the luxury end of the market.So just go to places like B&Q, IKEA etc and get a basic stylish low to mid range kitchen and bathroom.

It's also important to decorate your rental property in a realively neutral style. Definitely avoid garish individual wallpaper or features. Tenants want a blank canvas. And a blank canvas doen't have to be a bland canvas. Obviously use magnolia and white but you can also brighten the place up with the odd feature wall plus some stylish curtains or blinds, plus some good looking modern wood laminate flooring.

Again, in a way knowing your market and avoiding over personalisation are linked. Unless you are appealing to the real luxury end of the market, decorate and furnish your property to appeal to your own market. Think of your rental flat or house as a product.

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