Summer Maintenance Tips For Your Investment Property

Posted on May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 by author

Summertime is just around the corner! Summer is usually the time of year when people are looking to move into a new property or renew their existing lease agreement, making it the perfect time to schedule annual inspections and handle any issues or repairs.

Here are some tips to prepare your investment property for the summer.

Inspect HVAC System

The last thing you need as a landlord in the summer is your tenants complaining the air conditioner is broken on the hottest day of the year. Do yourself a favor and have your HVAC system inspected by checking the filters and cleaning out the coils. If you don’t consistently maintain your HVAC system, it can start to lose efficiency, making utility bills higher than usual.

Clean Out Dryer Vents

If you have a laundry room in-unit or in the building, having the dryer vents cleaned out is a good idea. If our tenants notice their clothes take a little longer to dry or are hotter to the touch when removed from the dryer, these are signs to have the dryer vents cleaned. This tends to be forgotten, but it doesn’t take long to do and can prevent dryer fires, saving you time and money down the road.

Tend To The Yard

Make sure your curb appeal looks its best by sprucing up the landscaping and taking care of the lawn. Take time to mow the lawn, remove overgrown weeds, and trim back bushes. In addition to lawn maintenance, you might want to have the sidewalks and patios power washed so they’re nice and clean for your tenants. This is important to do throughout the year, but more important now when tenants will be spending more time outside.

Handle Repairs

Minor repairs like chipping paint or broken handrails are important to handle now, so everything is fixed for new or existing tenants. If you have multiple properties, do a walkthrough to ensure nothing has gone unnoticed and everything is in working order for summer.

Once these summer maintenance tips are handled, you can enjoy your summer! If you have any questions or need recommendations on preparing your properties for summer, reach out to us! We are always here to help!

How To Make Your Rental Property Stand Out

Posted on November 16, 2022November 17, 2022 by author

When advertising your Round Rock rental property, you want to make sure it stands out against other local rental properties. Each day your property sits empty is money out of your pocket. Here are a few tips to make sure it gets rented out quickly.

Curb Appeal

When prospective tenants are looking for rentals, they are looking online. The first pictures they see are of the exterior of the home, so you’ll want to make sure it looks nice. Make sure the weeds are pulled, the lawn is well-manicured, and trash cans are put away. You don’t need to go overboard, but small things will make a big difference.

Staging

It’s hard to envision where the furniture will go and what the property will look like if it’s vacant – so consider staging the home to help tenants get a better idea. Avoid bringing in any personal items, but items to make the property feel more inviting that can help tenants imagine what it’s like to live there are helpful.

Repairs and Updates

Take care of your rental properties and make repairs and updates as needed. Even when you don’t have a tenant living in the property, make sure to clean regularly and make sure everything is in working condition.

Know Your Competition

There are many rental properties in Greater Austin, and we want prospective tenants to choose yours. So make sure you do your research and know what else is out there. You can use this information to point out what’s special about your property compared to others in the area.

At the end of the day, focus on what makes your property special against all others in the area. Keep it simple and do what you can to make it shine. If you have any questions or need recommendations, reach out to us!

Expert Curb Appeal Tips for Your Rental Property

Posted on March 31, 2016March 31, 2016 by author

Curb appeal done well can be the beginning of a beautiful love story, but if neglected your property can seem more like a house of horrors.

Curb appeal will make or break your listing, whether you are selling or renting your property. Many home buyers or renters won’t even set foot inside a home if they don’t like the looks from the outside. First impressions mean everything in real estate and property rentals. In many cases your first showing is the only opportunity you get to impress your potential tenant.

With that in mind, here are a few tips to ensure you are putting your best foot forward and attracting, rather than repelling potential tenants.

Curb Appeal 101: Clean Up the Yard

We mean this as it applies to actual trash, debris or tree limbs, as well as the lawn. Once the surface clean-up has been taken care of, cut the grass and clean up other foliage on the property. Shrubs should be cut back according to their appropriate standards and shape. Don’t try to get creative, no Edward Scissorhands sculptures necessary. Make sure that you don’t cut them too far back either, you want to make sure the plants all look well maintained and appealing to anyone interested in the home so it doesn’t look like too much maintenance.

Add Attractive Color to Your Property’s Landscape

Bright, pretty and climate-appropriate flowers are an excellent way to infuse character, as well as make your property feel more inviting to visitors. Lay mulch in flower beds and ensure that they are well defined with clean lines and defined separation from the lawn. Add a nice border if appropriate. Be certain what you choose matches the look and feel of the property or consult a landscaping service.

We can help get your property ready for all the new Austinites that are pouring into the area every day!

Pressure Wash Sidewalks, Driveways and Siding

Details that will make your property stand out above the rest are imperative. The more effort you put in, the more you get out of your listing. Bright sidewalks give a fresh, new feel to a rental property and are a detail that many overlook. When appropriate, be sure to pressure wash the outside of the building or home as well. If you do this, just be sure ahead of time that the material you are using the pressure washer can stand up to the deep cleaning power and that you plan to do the entire home. This is particularly important with two-story homes or apartment buildings.

Curb Appeal Doesn’t Stop at the Curb, Don’t Forget the Front Door

Curb appeal isn’t all about plants and sidewalks. The front door is one of the first things one notices when approaching a property. You want the door to be inviting. This can be attained by re-painting or staining the door, as well as adding modern hardware. Find a fresh spring color for the additional pop that will make your property stand out. The rest of the day visitors will be walking around other showings fondly saying, remember that one with the green door? For an additional standout detail you can add seasonal, tasteful décor like a small wreath or sprig of fresh herbs to the door.

Final Touches for Optimal Curb Appeal

Clean windows inside and out. Pressure washing won’t be enough, but is a good start. Find some glass cleaner, get out a dust rag and put some elbow grease into it. Set out potted plants and outdoor furniture where appropriate. Update outdoor lighting with modern fixtures. Make sure the lights are working and that all the bulbs are the same color and wattage. Last, but not least, check to see if the house numbers are visible from the street. Give everything a quick once-over and take photos while the property is at it’s best.

Learn more about the property management options in Austin available to you.

Curb Appeal Starts Online

When listing your property online, make sure that you have the most appealing photos of the outside of the home. Do not take photos before you have fully completed all of the above-mentioned projects. As hard as it may be to wait, the best time to take photos is once the last detail has been accounted for. Maintenance is a must, because once your images go up online, this is the home people will be looking for when they come to check out the property. Remember that pop of color on the door? It has another great function; making your property easily identifiable. Keep things clean and fresh for your visitors who already have expectations in place before they ever set foot on the property.

As the saying goes; “You only get one chance to make a first impression.” When you follow these tips, you can be sure you will leave a lasting and positive impression on each person that encounters your lovely property. Contact TALK Property Management today.