The creature comforts of a cozy, well-designed home are what we all crave. And when a renter is looking at property to rent they want that same feeling. While there are some landlords who work diligently on their homes and seem to be constantly repairing or renovating, this is sometimes not feasible for many of us who have no clue about the difference between a table saw and a drill.
That latter group may only want to hire someone to do an update or renovation on their rental property. But a full renovationus usually comes with high costs and a lot of time under construction that prevents the home from being rented out and thus a loss of income.
How can we upgrade rental preoperties (or even our own homes we live in) and not do a huge renovation?
Here are 10 budget-friendly ways to add value to your rental property or home.
1- Create Open Space
Homeowners want an open floor plan where one huge open space is shared by the kitchen, family room and dining room. It also seems like formal dining rooms are going out of style. How do you do that, you wonder, without tearing out walls? It can be simpler than you expect to make your home look open and airy. Often it’s as easy as getting rid of larger, bulkier furnishings or shifting furniture around the room. Mirrors are another trick of the eye that gives the illusion of open space. When opposite windows are mounted, mirrors reflect light into the room and make space appear more spacious.
2- Add New lighting fixtures
Good lighting will give a room a new lease of life. A poorly lit space looks tiny, dark and crowded, while it appears spacious, airy and inviting in a brightly lit room. Some of the simplest approaches are as easy as purchasing table lamps and floor lamps for your home. Put a few tall floor lamps strategically in dark corners and watch your room come alive. Layer this lighting on side tables with lamps, making the area feel inviting and comfortable. Then you can replace all those old ceiling fixtures with the beautiful new contemporary units that are available on the market if you want to become adventurous.
3– Update Cabinetry Handles
There is no reason not to upgrade both your cabinet and door handles because there are so many options to update your cabinetry. There are various finishes to pick from, such as bronze, brushed nickel, aged copper, and shiny stainless steel. You will be spoiled for choice finding what suits your home best, with so many new options on the market.
4- Window Treatments Update
Windows beg to be dressed! You are losing out on a nice layer of decorating by keeping your windows bare. Windows can be dressed up to suit your style and taste perfectly and be done affordably too. Go out on a tour of homes, or stop by an “open house” to get new ideas. Or check out your local home decor store for ideas. y.
5- Create an Outdoor Space
Even if there is no big front porch or spectacular backyard patio in the house, you just need to be creative. Start by finding a nice flat space and add some rock or gravel or maybe flagstone to define a space. Then maybe add a durable outdoor carpet or rug. By starting your outdoor space with a design like this you define a “room” outside and from there you can create an awesome outdoor space. Add a few cozy outdoor chairs, a tiny fire pit, some hanging string lights, and throw cushions. Think about adding a sail shade too! This will make the “room” more comfortable year round.
If you are going to add a sail shade, make sure you design it carefully and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to instlal it and secure it so that it is safe.
6- Landscape – update and freshen up the landscaping
Landscaping is often ignored. However, keeping up and freshening up yoru landscaping can really add a lot of value for hte dollars spent. And updating the landscaping significantly improves curb appeal. While not all of us are blessed with a “Green thumb” adding a few shrubs, cleaning out weeds and adding some nice flowers is something anyone can do. Start with a visit to a local greenhouse or a hardware store wiht a garden center and get ideas and inspiration. Plus most employees that work in garden centers know a lot about the plants and the flowers they have for sale.
7- Add Easy to Install (And Remove) Wallpaper
Check out all of the great designs of easy to use and install wallpaper at your home centers nowdays. This is not your Grandmother’s wallpaper. No, we are talking about all of the amazing new removable wallpapers that are currently hitting the market. The new line of changeable wallpaper comes in amazing patterns and graphics that will make your room look like you hired an interior designer (and spent a fortune).
8) The Bathroom Spruce-Up
Do a 1 day or half-day bathroom spruse up. Start with a thorough cleaning. It may not be much fun, but the bright outcome will give you new inspiration to spruce up the rest of the bathroom. Pay close attention to the rusty knobs, light fixtures, mirror, faucets, and shower curtains and get those cleaned up or replaced. You can make your bathroom look fresh and new by simply cleaning up , changing out worn out accessories like knobs, shower surtains and maybe updating and switching out a few old fixtures.
9) Build a Man Cave or a She Shed
Men and women love their own spaces! Check out all the great ideas online – especially sites like Pinterest. If you have enough space inside or even outside – consdier building a “She Shed” or a “Man Cave” to add some extra points with potential tenants. Everyone wants to enjoy a place to call their own. , a room to drink with the guys and watch a game in peace. There lots of ideas for making the ultimate man-cave.
10) Clean Up and Paint it Up
You might just want to start by simply cleaning-up your main living room. A deep-clean will boost your mood and make your home more livable (and more importantly, encourage you to do more). It seems simple, but it can take a space from drab to fab with a clean coat of paint.
In Conclusion –
As you can see, without the messy renovation or massive costs of remodeling, there are a lot of ways to upgrade your rental property or home. Stop by a local Open house that a real estate agent is having, or go by your local DIY center for more great ideas and start tackling some of the small projects that will add some big value. All these small changes go a long way towards renewing your properties while saving you money.
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