Top 10 Rental Property Photos You Need

Written by on August 18, 2011 in Landlord Tips, Management, Marketing - No Comments
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When looking at their vacant rental property, landlords should put themselves in the shoes of a renter. As a renter searching for a new home, what would make you pick up the phone to contact the owner and schedule a tour? Are there certain rooms you “must see” before you’ll make the trip? What photos could entice you to want to know more?

Once you look at your rental from this perspective, you’ll realize that it’s important to feature your rental in the best light and show off as much as possible to earn your potential renters’ trust. Here are 7 types of photos you should incude in your rental apartment advertisements and 3 types you need as a property manager. Excluding some of these must-have photos in your ads could make a renter think you have something to hide so don’t forget them.

Marketing Photos – Use these photos when advertising your vacant rental apartment.

1. Kitchen – The most requested photos from renters is of the kitchen. These spaces are tough to capture because they are usually small in apartments. Use a wide angle lens and take a step back. Try to give some context to the space and make it look as spacious as possible.

2. Living Room / Great Room - This photograph will give the prospective renter a feel for the overall space and quality of your rental apartment. Style the living room with neutral colors and inviting furniture.

3. Bathroom – Equally as requested as the kitchen, but probably more difficult to photograph is the bathroom. Make sure to clean and style the bathroom a bit. Set up matching towels and accessories and put the toilet seat down.

4. Exterior - We addressed curb appeal before and it’s importance in rental property. The exterior photo will not only highlight your curb appeal, it will let the renter know they’ve found the correct place when they arrive for the property tour.

5. Bedroom - A good rule of thumb in all photographed rooms is to have them staged with furniture, but it is most important in the bedrooms. It’s too difficult for renters to see if their bedroom furniture will fit and it’s very important. Look for interesting angles for these photos, but make sure to include the edges of the bed in the frame.

6. Amenities - Amenities are additional features that help your rental property stand out from the crowd so a great photo of them should be included. However, do not overdo the number of amenity photos. Renters are always more interested in their personal living space and an abundance of property amenity photos might make them think you’re hiding something.

7. View – Properties with views often rent for more than those without, so renters will want proof of this coveted feature if they are going to spend more money each month. This is also a great selling feature that will help draw attention to your rental property and increase your property showings. Try to include part of your rental in your photograph as well so it’s clear that it was actually taken from your home.

A best practice tip: Invest in good marketing photography. These photos of a beautifully staged apartment can be used over and over. This way, when you receive the notice to vacate from your current tenant, you can start marketing right away with great photos!

Documentation photos – These are photos that should be kept on hand for property management purposes. Since they will not be used to attract renters, they do not need to be taken by a professional or high quality camera equipment.

8. Pre-rental Photos – Landlords should take a photograph of every room before a tenant moves in. These photos serve as great documentation should you need to evict a tenant or have a dispute over something at your rental property. It’s also a good idea to date stamp these photos.

9. Post-rental Photos – Similar to the pre-rental photos, landlords should take a photograph of every room just after a tenant moves out. Combine this informal photo shoot with the final walk through so your renter sees you documenting the condition of the apartment. If you need to charge for any damages, these photos will come in handy.

10. Specific Damages – Speaking of damages, if there are any damages that you will be charging your renter for, it’s wise to take a photograph or two to document the necessary repairs. This helps communication with your renter and keeps you covered in case of a dispute.

Related Posts:

10 Ways to Improve Your Apartment Photos
Staging a Rental Property
Get More From Your Rental Ads

Photos by: Trust & Travel, Brimley, lms photos, and Coco + Kelley

Staging a Rental Property

Written by on July 10, 2011 in Landlord Tips, Management, Marketing - No Comments
Staging_designerscall

Staging is not only a great way to sell a house, it’s a great way to rent an apartment. It is one of the best ways to have your property stand out above the other rental properties in the area, increases the perception of value in your rental property, attracts good quality tenants, maximizes the monthly rental fee you can charge and boosts your chance of a quick rental. With all of these benefits, staging is a logical choice when faced with a vacant rental apartment.

Just like with other types of property, the rental market is dominated by supply and demand. While there are some features of a property that cannot be change, like location, the condition of the unit in relation to others of similar size can be manipulated. The three main ideas to focus on when staging a property include:

  1. Optimizing the look, feel and flow of the space – your goal is to maximize the selling features of the rental apartment
  2. Balance the living spaces and create appeal in the eyes of your future tenants
  3. Minimizing any negative features so they do not take center stage and thus are afterthoughts for your tenants

While it would be nice to be able to hire a designer and completely furnish your vacant apartment, that’s not always possible. However, there are a few ways to ensure that your properties benefit from some basic staging practices on a budget.

  • Make sure you have a clean slate to work with. Vacuum, dust, wipe down all your surfaces, and remove any clutter. Dirty is not something people want when renting an apartment.
  • Keep all paints neutral colors so that you don’t automatically turn off any potential renters. Add splashes of color throughout the house using accessories.
  • Ensure your property is bright by replacing all light bulbs inside and outside of the home.
  • Use welcome mats and area rugs to minimize the amount of dirt and debris that is tracked into your home. Future residents will appreciate your attempt to keep the property clean.
  • Highlight your assets by optimizing features like bay windows and fireplaces by drawing the eye with bright accessories or a beautiful plant.
  • If you are on a really tight budget, keep your staging to a minimum and accessorize only the kitchens & baths. This is where your tenants will be drawn to the most.
  • In the kitchen, pair coordinating dishtowels and potholders with liquid soap by the sink and a cookbook on the counter. It’s also nice to fill the refrigerator with bottles of water.
  • If you can, consider setting up a small bistro table with plates, cloth napkins, silverware and wine glasses. This table and chairs set will come in handy for filling out applications and displaying property fliers.
  • Decorate the bathroom with bright white towels, a nice rug and a coordinating shower curtain. A soap dispenser and other counter accessories provide a nice touch as well.
  • If your budget allows, buy an inflatable mattress for the master bedroom and complete it with a modern bedding set. Finish the room off with two nightstands, lamps and a few hardcover books.
  • Use an air freshener to keep your apartment smelling great. Vanilla is a good scent that appeals to both men and women.
  • Consider investing in new blinds or curtains periodically as they tend to show signs of wear and tear after a couple of years.

Another piece of good news is that the purchase of staging items can be written off as an expense against your rental property income. However, if your budget doesn’t allow for purchasing new staging items then think like some Realtors who are just staring out and look around your own home for items you can use.

Photo by: designerscall