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Blue Mountain Rentals, curb appeal, Eye of Newt, landlord, manager, neighborhood, network, property owner, prospect, renter, tenant
For many landlords, the whole prospect of trying to find the ideal tenant to fill their vacant units can seem quite daunting. There seems to be an abundance of renters out there that all have some sort of flaw and make them less than ideal for what they have in mind for their investment. This task may be even more of a challenge if the property or neighborhood itself is less appealing.
The Eye of Newt has been used many times throughout history, from Shakespeare to the notorious witches brew. Several sources have come up with various several meanings behind the term. For one, the Newt is a Salamander that excretes a poisonous substance for their body that is very toxic. They use this as a defense mechanism to drive away predators. Eye of Newt has also been used is as a magical substance in potions in some of the modern day computer games. So, is your property toxic and driving away good renters, or does it need a dose of magic to make it more appealing?
First Impressions matter!
If you feel like all of the propective renters that are interested in your property are less than desireable, you may just need a dose of magic to spruce it back up. Find a friend, family member or someone who is unattached with no interest in the property to come and take a look. Fresh eyes often times willl help you find the flaws and many can be remedied with little or no cost or elbow grease.
A few questions to ask are: Will the new tenant have to spend hours cleaning an overgrown flower bed? Does the lawn need some edging? Is the grass knee high? What about the windows – are they dingy and hard to see through? Do the shrubs that should be about 2 feet high seem to be reaching for the sky? All easy fixes with just a little bit of time. Now, take a look inside: Are their outlet or light switch covers that are painted over or broken? Are the window sills clean and window tracks free of dust & debris? Is the caulking in the bathroom fresh and white? You would be surprised at how many little things you can do to improve the first impression a potential renter will perceive.
Does the neighborhood scream neglect and lack of care? Have you spoken with your neighbors? Is there a way to establish a block party for clean up? What about that elderly neighbor 2 houses down? Are they able to get out and trim up the shrubs, trees and weed their flower beds? Offer some assistance to those in need and with a little team work, your block may just end up being the best one in the neighborhood. A bonus to this is that you will also meet the neighbors and establish a network to help you keep an eye on your investment.
While not every property will be able to make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, you can at least give it a boost in the right direction. Now, go grab your cauldron and whip up a batch of magical potion to get your investment back on the upswing! Do you have any suggestions on sprucing up a property? I’d love to hear your tips!
Lori Hartjoy is the owner of Blue Mountain Rentals, established in April of 2011. As well as being a devoted mother of 3 toddlers, she provides over 20 years of clerical experience to her clients. Her background includes processing employment, tenant screening and background checks, working as a property manager for 25 rental units, as a bookkeeper for a HUD apartment complex and as the sole payroll clerk for a major telecommunications corporation.
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