As the saying goes...you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Real estate professionals will tell you from experience, that many renters and home buyers will not even get out of the car to look at a property if the home looks like a mess from the outside. Spending an afternoon painting some trim, mowing and raking the lawn, and investing in some flowers or other plants can build positive curb appeal. A nice functioning lock can also send a message that the home is well maintained. The last thing you want to do is be sitting there jiggling your keys in the lock while the customer is standing looking at your train wreck of a front yard.
You are also going to want to make sure that your entrance way is well lit and nicely painted. Replace all burned out bulbs and use throw rugs and welcome mats to help cut down on the amount of dirt that can be tracked into the home. Use neutral paint colors so that you don't automatically turn off half of your potential renters. Try to add some splashes of color throughout the house using items such as towels and soap in the kitchen and baths and use candles to help keep the house smelling clean and fresh. You can also add splashes of color with house plants and/or flowers. If there is any furniture in the home, make sure that it clean of debris and that it is covered with decent throws or tables clothes if the surfaces are not in great shape. You may also want to invest in new blinds or curtains periodically as they tend to show signs wear and tear after a couple of years.
You can find other home staging tips at the Home Buying Institute's web site.
Feel free to share other steps that you make to dress up your investment properties.
