Properties are tricky to maintain. They often cost a lot of time, work, and money. Fortunately, people now have the option to turn their second house into an Airbnb. If you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s an app that basically lets you rent out your property to another person on the app for short or long-term engagements. You can rent anything out from a spare room to a mansion in the countryside.
But if you’re not really into that, sprucing up your extra home is still an excellent way to raise its value. If you’re inevitably going to spend money on it, why not make it an investment, right?
The Basics are Called That for a Reason
Before anything else, make sure your property has electricity, heating (if applicable), and running water. You can get away with not having WiFi but no light means no bite.
While you’re at it, make all the necessary repairs and cleanups. And if you’re not sure, check if your house has outstanding bills or taxes you need to deal with.
Some remodelling jobs need approved permits before you can do them. The Spruce made a nice list here for your reference.
Uniqueness = Higher Price
Scrolling through listings can feel monotonous very quickly. Imbuing your home with something that separates it from all the others will get you the attention you need from renters and buyers alike. Granted, that’s easier said than done but that’s why you’re reading this article.
Consider these improvements:
Modernize your fireplace. You don’t have to install an expensive smart fireplace (they probably have one of those now), you only need to clean it up enough to not make it look like it’s going to ruin Santa’s suit. Give it a fresh coat of paint and maybe add new bricks around it. You can either retain its original feature or just put cheap lights in.
Install rustic barnwood flooring. The perfect fusion between sleek and rough. This gives your property that extra boost in character. You can do this for your old hunting lodge or your penthouse apartment in the city.
Add window seats. This feature in houses is underrated. Particularly for places where you get a lot of light, adding seats is a surefire way to get those bookworms all excited. As a bonus, you can turn the extra space around it to bookshelves.
Switch to dimmable LED lighting. If you have an older property, you probably don’t have this feature yet. Aside from being a real mood-setter, the best thing about these lights is that they are hella energy-efficient, which means lower energy bills!
Go with smart appliances. If you have the budget, why not? Some items like smart refrigerators and toasters still offer some novelty for the average joe. If you’re furnishing the place anyway, make it future proof.
On the other hand, using vintage appliances (that work) can also get you some uniqueness points. Use your judgment here. There’s a market for either option.
Snap snap = Ka-ching!
Hire a good photographer. You can do it yourself if you’re confident enough. Check out some home design images online and check whether you have what it takes to compete with those. If you don’t, get a professional to take photos. People today rely heavily on visuals to evaluate products. A virtual tour through video can be a better choice only if the platform you plan to use will allow those.
You should also write a beautiful, intriguing, but honest description of your place. The last thing you want is people giving you a review saying you’ve misrepresented your listing.
