Three Things to Do During the Off-Season to Get Your Beach Home Ready for Renters

Well it’s that time of year again!  The weather is getting cooler, the days are growing shorter, and trees across the Grand Strand are ablaze in brilliant hues of yellow and orange. Fall has officially arrived. And, if you own a rental property at the beach, that means one thing: it’s time to start getting your property ready for next summer!

Now that the hustle and bustle of the busy tourist season has passed, now is the perfect time to make those much-needed upgrades to your rental property to ensure that you maximize your earning potential next summer!

Not sure where to get started? No worries, Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Elliott Coastal Living is here with our three easy tips to get your beach property ready for renters!

Start from the Outside and Work Your Way In

The first step to maximizing your earning potential for next summer is improving the curb appeal of your rental property.

While we are taught early on, you should not judge a book by its cover, renters often judge the worthiness of a rental property based on just a few pictures of the exterior. If a home looks dated and worn on the outside, many renters won’t take the time to take a look and see what it looks like on the inside.

That’s why it is so important that you should use this time to work outside and spruce up the curb appeal of your home. Power wash the exterior of your home to make sure it’s free of any mold or dirt, re-mulch the beds in your lawn, trim up any errant trees or bushes, apply a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home, and sand and re-stain your deck till it looks brand new. 

The better you can make your home look on the outside, the more likely you will be to get renters to stay inside.

Lighten Up You Interior

Now that we have taken care of the curb appeal of your home, it is time to move into the interior. Like curb appeal, first impressions say a lot when it comes to a rental property.

Thad Wier, Manager of Elliott Beach Rentals Property Upgrade Program, said “The first step into a property is important from everything to the lighting, smell, and paint. On average, homeowners on our program that frequently upgrade the look of their units collect more gross rental, on average, than their outdated counterparts.”

it is important that you keep the interior of your beach home looking as bright, fresh, and inviting as possible. Brighten up your walls with a fresh coat of paint, replace old or damaged furniture with new, contemporary-looking furniture, update the bedspread in your bedroom. Even something as small as new throw pillows are enough to make your home look fresh, new, and inviting.

Cleanliness is King

We cannot stress this point enough IF YOUR HOME LOOKS DIRTY, RENTERS WON’T WANT TO STAY THERE!

That is why, before you put your home out there for renters, giving your home a nice deep clean is an absolute must. Your best bet is to do a thorough deep clean of your rental property at least twice a year: once after the busy season is over, and then again just before the busy season starts.

Power wash the exterior of your home (yes, we know we already said this but you can never power wash your home too much.) Hire professional carpet cleaners to clean and re-stretch any carpeting you may have in your home. And do not forget about those vent ducts. Having your vents professionally cleaned and sanitized is a good way to prevent dust, mold, mildew, and bad smells.

Remember, you want your renters to walk into your home and say “Ahhhh”, and not “Ahhh..God, what is that?!”

Looking to Buy a New Rental Property?

Are you looking to buy a new rental property at the beach? Then turn to the local real estate pros at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elliott Coastal Living.

For more than 60 years, BHGRE Elliott Coastal Living has been the name the Grand Strand trusts for all their real estate needs. Using the latest technology and most innovative marketing strategies, we guarantee that our family of real estate professionals will find the perfect home to suit your needs.

Give us a call at 843-280-5704 or stop by our office today, and together we’ll find you the rental property of your dreams!