The little things tenants love…

Hi Wayne,

Storage space, as humans we tend to accumulate (hoard) lots of “things” so one can never have too many places in which to put them. Shelves, cupboards. You could make use of empty space by enclosing it and putting a door in front for some useful storage room. Extra shelving in laundries is ideal for placing detergents on etc, as are broom and/or ironing board cupboards.

If you like the bathroom heater, and you don’t mind spending an extra quid, try a heated towel rail; nothing nicer after stepping out of the shower/bath and wrapping yourself up in a soft warm towel (heavenly)!!!!

Sensor lights in front (or rear) garden or (preferably) front porch leading to entrance, gives people sense of security and helps at times when scrambling around for keys in the dark.

Clothes lines, retractable ones work well, and don’t hog the backyard and make it unsightly.

But I guess, it all comes down to personal choice and of course $$$$

Cheers,

Jo

wayne,

As a tenant, there’s something that’s really important to me- and it’s something that landlords seem to sometimes cross the line with. It’ll cost you nothing to do, and it won;t take any of your time- in fact, it will free up your time. That’s giving your tenants *privacy* All tenants have the right to “quiet enjoyment” of their premises, under the Residential Tenancies Act, and that means landlords can’t snoop around the premises every 5 minutes. Some tenants are not aware of their rights, and I think a respectful landlord will make sure they know the rights of tenants, and they let tenants know them too.

Sometimes the best things in life are free, but they also create a world of difference to our tenants. My RE comes to my place once a year for an inspection. Apart from that, it’s my home, and I don’t want snoopies.

kay henry

Hi Wayne 12
My 2 cents worth is : make sure the tenant is warm, cool, clean, big HWS, great sink & stove, generous shower head, everything works properly, and your PM moves like a scalded cat when repairs or maintenance is required.
cheers
thecrest

What tenants really like is value for money.

Hi Wayne,

I would argue that mainstream tenants want a safe, well kept property with a landlord/PM who attend to maintenance problems in a timely manner.

After attending to heating/cooling, security and safety issues I don’t believe the ‘little things’ add much in the way of value to a property or to the rent returns. Why spend $1500 on something that gives no return?

I would prefer to keep the $1500 for repairs so they can be actioned quickly when/if required – in the meantime put the money in your offset or redraw account where it is readily accessible.

Derek
[email protected]

Property Investment Support Available. Ongoing and never stopping. PM welcome.

I’d hold the cash and wait and see what the tenant asks for, every tenant is different and what may suit one doesn’t always suit another. Besdies if you’re still doing the reno then you may find that there’s little things that you find that need fising along the way that will eat into the funds available anyway.

Good Luck. We’re down to painting the skiritings an dwindow frames on our reno and it feels like it’s taking forever.

PK

Storage is a biggie for me.
We have an attic in this house with good access, and it’s a godsend.

Decor is important. Neutral i.e. white, beige, cream, offends the least amount of people and if using dark colours, like for feature walls etc, navy blue offends the least amount of people. Purples, reds, greens, yellow are very personal and can make others go YUCK!!!

The more ‘sydney stylee’ you can make your property look (within a budget appropriate to the market of course) the better, because the tenant will percieve the kitchen being ‘cool’ even if all you did was paint the original 50’s one but put nice new stainless steel handles on the cupboards!!

I did nothing more than white/beige paint and curtains in a natural fabric and polished the floors, and even though this was the cheapest property in the world in the sleepiest backwater town, the perception was immediately (from the rental manager) that ‘this is the best house we have’. Pretty amazing really. even country towns like ‘cool’ places.

cheers-
Mini

joy to the world

Hi all,

I have just moved into a rental property for the first time and all I want is a deadlock on the door. I am no thief yet even I could break into this property in less than a minute through the front door! The Landlord won’t supply one.

Surely security is high up on the list of tenant needs/wants. I agree with you on this one Derek.

I also agree with you Blitzem. Who knows how long you may stay in a property? Surely hanging some pictures and patching up the wall (properly) afterwards is not asking too much in a lease that could go on for years?

Neither of these things cost much but it is amazing the kind of opposition you can come up against!

Cheers,

Ali G

Ali G ( was terribly impressed by you in the movie)

I am about to replace a front door to an IP. I thought about a deadlock and while you might think it cheap……..I dont.

I don’t have one on my own front door so I see no need to provide one to my tennants. If I have nervous nellies living in one of properties, I see no problem with them installing their own deadlock. Nor do I have a problem with them putting hooks in the wall to hang their pics. As long as they are looking after the place they should make it as homey as they like.

Perhaps I am not cut out to be a landlord but frankly I cannot understand people who hassle the PM over changing a light bulb or a washer.

milly