Demand alone does not ensure a quick lease or the best selection of tenants, even though rental properties in Rouse Hill and the surrounding Hills area might draw a lot of attention.
As local real estate agents, we can attest to the importance of preparedness. From the moment a potential renter views the pictures, a property that feels tidy, well-maintained and ready to move into inspires confidence. A property can soon lose that advantage if it has clear maintenance or presentation problems.
These are the things we advise you to get right before your next leasing campaign starts.
1. Start with a deep clean
Even when it appears a previous tenant has left the property reasonably clean, it is worth looking at it again through the eyes of someone inspecting it for the first time.
We pay particular attention to kitchens, bathrooms, windows, tracks, skirting boards, floors, built-in wardrobes and outdoor entertaining areas. Garages, too, are worth a deeper look, especially as they’re likely to have accumulated dust, cobwebs or items between tenancies.
We believe it’s worthwhile getting the property cleaned professionally as a good clean helps the property present better for photography and means prospective tenants walk into a home that feels ready for them.
2. Get the maintenance sorted first
Before your leasing campaign begins, you want peace of mind that everything is working as it should. Now is not the best time to find out there’s a problem with the air conditioning or a tap has started leaking.
Go through the property before photography and inspections begin. Check for squeaky doors, ensure locks operate smoothly, lights have working bulbs, taps and toilet aren’t leaking and exhaust fans and other fixtures are clean and in good working order. If the property has heating or cooling equipment, make sure it is clean, serviced where appropriate and operating as it should.
Even small repairs can have a large effect on presentation. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint in tired areas, repairing marked walls or replacing a damaged fitting can be enough to make the whole property feel fresher and better maintained.
The aim is not necessarily to renovate. It is to remove the little issues that may give prospective tenants a reason to hesitate.
3. Consider whether one small improvement could help
Between tenancies is also a good opportunity to look at whether the property is missing something practical – like storage. While it’s not always practical to install storage, an extra shelf in a cupboard or racks in the garage can make tenant life more comfortable without it costing you a fortune.
4. Don’t forget the yard and garage
We’re all about kerb appeal, and the front of the property sets the tone before anyone steps inside. From the road, a potential tenant should see a tidy and clean front yard, and in the back, any outdoor entertaining areas need to be clean and ideally staged to spark a tenant’s imagination. If there is a garage, make sure it is empty, accessible and presented as genuinely usable space. You want prospective tenants to understand at a glance the value those spaces add.
5. Organise compliance requirements
Presentation matters, but the property also needs to be ready from a practical and compliance perspective.
In NSW, landlords have responsibilities regarding working smoke alarms in rental properties. If your property has a swimming pool or spa, there are specific requirements regarding registration and valid compliance or occupation certificates when leasing the property.
We advise getting these requirements checked early as this helps prevent paperwork or compliance issues from becoming a last-minute problem once we’ve found you a suitable tenant.
6. Make professional photography count
Professional photography is essential when launching a rental property.
Your photos are often the first inspection as tenants go online to find suitable properties. Each listing has about three seconds to impress. A professional photographer is experienced in highlighting a property’s best features and making the most of the light. This means that before your photographer arrives, the property should be ready with clear surfaces if the property is tenanted, bins emptied, blinds or curtains open and windows clean and sparkling.
Good photography does more than make a property look attractive. It helps prospective tenants understand exactly what makes the home worth inspecting.
7. Price for the market you are entering
A strong asking rent needs to be supported by the current market, not based on what the rental price was a year ago or the price another property is advertised for. When we’re helping owners price their rentals, we look at comparable properties, recent leasing activity, competing listings and the individual features of the home before recommending a rental price or a price range.
We keep in mind that the goal is to secure the best tenant at the right price. We don’t want to set the price so high that it turns off good tenants and leaves your property untenanted for longer.
A well-presented property launched at the right price gives you the best opportunity to create early interest and choose from a stronger pool of applicants.
8. Think carefully about timing
When you launch can matter almost as much as how you launch.
Your Property Manager should be planning ahead of the existing tenancy ending, identifying any work that needs to happen and organising photography, compliance and marketing so unnecessary vacancy is avoided.
Preparation becomes much harder when everything is being organised at the last minute.
Get the property right before it hits the market.
Any successful leasing campaign begins well before the first inspection
Cleaning, maintenance, presentation, compliance, professional photography, pricing and timing all work together. The good news is we can help you with all of it.
For landlords across Rouse Hill and the Hills, our advice is simple: use the changeover between tenants as an opportunity to look critically at your property and get it ready for the next chapter.
If you’re preparing a Hills investment property for lease, talk to our local Property Management Team. We can inspect the property, recommend what is worth addressing and help you prepare a leasing campaign designed to attract the right tenants from day one.
Thinking of selling or need selling advice in The Hills?
We have buyers looking for homes in Rouse Hill, Beaumont Hills, Box Hill, Kellyville, North Kellyville and Tallawong. As established real estate agents, we’re here to help. Get in touch today by calling us on 02 8883 0777.
