How to Boost Your Rental Property’s Curb Appeal

Key Takeaways

• First impressions matter – Great curb appeal attracts quality tenants.
• Affordable upgrades pay off – Simple fixes like paint and landscaping boost ROI.
• Neutral is best – Stick to neutral paint colors for wider appeal.
• Maintenance shows care – Clean windows and manicured lawns reflect good management.

As a savvy landlord, you understand the benefit of keeping your rental property visually appealing. It can help you minimize rental vacancies and boost your tenant retention rates.

That said, some landlords fail to get it right. They put all their efforts into upgrading their property’s amenities and other interior aspects, and forget the curb appeal. And more often than not, this leads to suboptimal results.

You see, how your curb appeal looks can either make or break your efforts of trying to rent out your property. It can also impact your tenant retention rates.

Fortunately for you, in today’s blog, American Dream Realty And Management will walk you through proven tips on how to boost your rental property’s curb appeal.

What is Curb Appeal?

Curb appeal refers to the visual attractiveness of a property when viewed from the street. It’s the first thing that prospective renters will see before they set foot on the property.

So, what does curb appeal typically include?

Generally, the following are the common aspects that the curb appeal of a rental property usually includes.

• Landscaping: This includes things like trees, flower beds, lawn, fencing, and walkways and driveways.
• The property’s exterior: This can include the exterior paint, cleanliness, windows, roof, doors, and exterior lighting.

Other details that can be considered part of the curb appeal on a rental property include outdoor furniture and porch and entryway.

Why is Curb Appeal Important?

Curb appeal is key in attracting and retaining high-quality tenants. And as you probably know, high-quality tenants can benefit your bottom line in more ways than one.

Including, paying rent on time, reporting issues quickly, caring for the unit like they would their own, and renting long-term.

Furthermore, you may also get an opportunity to ask for more rent. An attractive rental property can help you attract a large prospective tenant pool. And the higher the demand, the more you could charge.

If you already have a resident and are thinking of raising rent after a curb appeal upgrade, make sure to check any local rent increase laws. There may be a couple of guidelines you may need to follow before you hike it.

What ROI can you expect Curb Appeal to Provide You?

Rental upgrades are not created the same because some provide a better ROI than others. And that’s why it’s important to choose the right ones for optimal ROI. Fortunately for you, upgrading your rental’s curb appeal can help you in this regard.

Upgrading your property’s curb appeal doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, most upgrades are relatively affordable and don’t have to be done on a regular basis.

Having a vacant property can be costly to your bottom line as a landlord. Even if it lasts only for two weeks, the loss can be quite significant. As such, it only makes sense to spend a bit of money to reinvigorate your property’s visual appeal to save more money in the long run.

4 Ways to Boost Your Rental Property’s Curb Appeal

Repaint Tired-Looking Walls

Repainting tired-looking walls is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to spruce up your property’s curb appeal. A can of paint only costs $25. You may also be able to do the painting yourself if you have some decent DIY skills.

Don’t be dramatic, though. Your choice of paint colors should be limited to a neutral color palette. Why? Neutral colors like grey, beige, and white tend to appeal to most people, unlike custom colors like blue, red, and pink.

If you’re unsure about your DIY skills, go for professional services. The cost will be worthwhile if you hire the right person.

Manicure the Landscaping

This can be as simple as getting your lawn mowed. Ideally, mow your lawn at least once every week. Additionally, make sure to trim the edges along your lawn and any weeds along the pathways.

For persistent weeds that won’t go away, use a weed killer. This can make the difference between a beautiful, weed-free yard and an unsightly one.

A well-manicured landscape will show prospective tenants that you care for your property and the well-being of your residents.

Plant Diverse Plants

Having a clean-cut lawn is great and necessary. However, you may want to take things a notch higher for your property’s curb appeal by planting diverse plants on your lawn. These can include trees, bushes, and flowers.

Trees can help with shade. Flowers can help bring color and beauty to your yard. Carefully selected bushes can be pivotal for overall soil health. This is the perfect recipe for an attractive curb appeal.

It goes without saying that you should go for low-maintenance plants. A flower like hydrangeas, for instance, is colorful, beautiful, and incredibly easy to maintain.

Clean the Windows

Part of your property’s curb appeal is windows on your property’s front façade. These can be few or many, depending on how many rental properties or units you have. The goal here is to make sure that they are as clean as they possibly can.

Conclusion

Boosting your property’s curb appeal is essential for optimum ROI. If you do it well, you can expect minimal vacancies and high tenant retention rates. And even better, these won’t cost you an arm and a leg to do.

For expert help in any aspect of rental management, look no further than American Dream Realty And Management. We provide full-service real estate and property management services to clients in Baltimore City and the surrounding areas. Get in touch to learn more!