Top Features Tenants Look For In A Rental Property

Whether you’re purchasing your first rental property or your 10th, you want to ensure the property attracts tenants. In addition to location and accessibility to highways and amenities, certain interior features will help steer tenants toward your Greater Austin area rental property.

Let’s dive into a few of the top features tenants look for in a rental property.

Open Floor Plan

One of the top features homeowners look for when purchasing a home is an open floor plan, and tenants are no different. Tenants want to be able to have a place to entertain, and it allows them to be more flexible with their furniture and decor. Many people are still working from home, so having an open space to add an office area is helpful.

Upgrades

When you hear upgrades, you probably think of dollar signs, right? If you have the funds to update everything, the more, the merrier! However, a few upgrades can go a long way. Cosmetic updates like new flooring and fresh paint are huge for tenants. If you want to take it a step further, tenants also look for bathroom and kitchen updates. If you have an older property, consider updating mechanical items like plumbing, HVAC systems, and wiring to save yourself some time and money down the road. 

Included & Updated Appliances

Having appliances included in your rental property means less money your tenants will have to spend on them if they don’t already have them. Tenants will be impressed to see appliances included, especially if they are nicely updated. If you already have appliances and they are dated, consider updating them. In addition, having an on-site washer and dryer is becoming more common among rental properties. Being able to do your laundry at home instead of going to the local laundromat will save your tenants time and money.

Storage Space

Tenants always appreciate having extra space to store their items. Nothing is worse than putting things in the corner of your living room or bedroom. Not only does it look messy, but it takes up space that could be used for entertaining or additional decor or furniture. Make sure your rental property has a basement, attic, or lots of closets for storage.

Make sure to keep these features in mind when you purchase your next Greater Austin area rental property. It will go a long way for tenants! If you have any questions or need recommendations, reach out to us! We are always here to help.

Pros and Cons of Month-to-Month Tenants

Regarding leasing agreements, the two most popular agreements are month-to-month and year-long. Most landlords prefer the traditional year-long agreements because they lock tenants into a rental property for an entire year, but let’s dive into the pros and cons of month-to-month leases and see how they could be beneficial to you and your Round Rock rental properties. 

Pros of Month-To-Month Tenants

Flexibility

Month-to-month agreements allow landlords to control whether they want to keep the tenants in the rental. All landlords have to do is give adequate notice per state requirements that the agreement will not be renewed and the tenant would have to move out. Texas and most states require a 30-day notice, but be sure to verify with your state.

Rent Raises and Policy Changes

With month-to-month agreements, it’s easier to implement rent raises and policy changes when your rental properties are vacant. You also won’t have to worry about losing any tenants during this time, so you can see what works and what doesn’t. 

Keep Great Tenants

If you have tenants who pay their rent on time and aren’t ready to sign a fixed lease, being able to offer them a month-to-month lease is a great option. It will keep them there longer, not cause you any problems, and will save you from having a vacant property. 

 

Cons of Month-To-Month Tenants

Lack of Stability

One of the biggest cons of month-to-month agreements for landlords is the lack of stability. It’s challenging to figure out how profitable you will be in a year with the unknown of how many tenants you will have and how much rent you will collect. 

Flexibility = Uncertainty

The flexibility of controlling tenants and end dates can also mean uncertainty. Not knowing how long a tenant will be in a rental property means you don’t know how much money you will make or when you will need to find new tenants. 

Short Notice

While landlords can provide notice to tenants to move out, tenants can also give a 30-day notice to landlords at any time. This means short notice for landlords to find new tenants, which could lead to further issues if landlords rush and don’t conduct a proper screening.

 

Overall, there are a lot of benefits to month-to-month leasing agreements, but it is important to compare them to yearly agreements and decide what is best for you as a landlord. If you have any questions or need recommendations, reach out to us! We are always here to help.