Your home is more than just bricks and mortar. And darn it, it’s more than an investment too. In fact, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that your home is a part of you. It’s your fortress; a place where you can be yourself away from the worries of the world outside and surrounded by the people you love the most. However, if an opportunity like the chance to travel or a temporary job overseas come along, you can also feel like your home is also a ball and chain, holding you back and keeping you from great opportunities.

The good news, however, is that with the help of letting agents, renting out your house while you live your dreams is a doddle. However, your home can’t make you money if it sits for months devoid of tenants. While a letting agent will do all that they can to get your home occupied quickly, you can take steps to make it more appealing to tenants. The more you do to make it appealing, the higher rental prices you’ll be able to command and the less chance you’ll have of long periods where your home is unoccupied. Some great tips include…

Keep your walls neutral

The beauty of owning your own place is that you can make it your own, and indulge your more idiosyncratic style of decor in ways that you might not be able to do in a rented property. If you want a hot pink feature wall… You go ahead and paint yourself as hot pink feature wall, girl!

When renting out your property, however, it pays to embrace a more neutral palette on your walls. Tenants want a space they can make their own and feel at home in. Neutral colours help you to make your home more appealing to a broad range of tastes.

Have decor that straddles the line

Some of us prefer decor with a more contemporary sensibility. They embrace clean lines, chrome and natural materials like stone and wood. They value simplicity and minimalism. Others, however, prefer a more traditional aesthetic. The good news is that while these are fundamentally different approaches, it is possible to have decor that straddles the line between these disparate styles and appeals to a broader range of prospective tenants. Click here to see what we mean.

Keep your garden immaculate

A beautiful garden can help to make a house look and feel more like a home. Be advised, however, that not all tenants are looking for a garden. They may see it as effort and maintenance that they would do better to avoid. Keep your garden immaculate, however, and it will look more appealing to tenants who would not usually consider one.

Don’t forget to think about kerb appeal

Finally, don’t forget that you needn’t wait for tenants to walk through the door before you start building a good impression. Take steps to improve your kerb appeal like plants, hanging baskets or a newly painted front door, and there’s a much better chance that they’ll want to sign the lease before they even walk in.