Real estate is an excellent investment opportunity for many people. You can choose to use your properties as a short-term investment, selling them as the market changes in your favor. Or, you can treat them as a long-term investment, renting them out and collecting the dividends.
Whether you intend to sell a property or rent it out to tenants, you may want to consider renovating it to make it more appealing. Often, you can get a fantastic deal on a property that is slightly run-down or neglected, which means that you can make a quick buck by doing a little bit of work on it.
The Front Door
The front door of your property is usually the first thing buyers or renters will see when they approach it. This ties into a concept known as curb appeal, which refers to the first impression that someone has when they see your property. If a building has poor curb appeal, it’s more difficult to convince someone to buy the property, even if it only takes a small amount of work to improve its appearance.
If the front door isn’t in disrepair, then you might just need to give it a quick paint job to brighten it up. However, it might be necessary to get an entirely new front door. If the door is damaged or old, then a new front door will make the difference. Also, it will cut down on utility costs, which is especially important if you intend to rent the property and manage it as a landlord.
New Paint Job
One of the quickest ways to freshen up the interior of your property is to get the walls painted. A fresh paint job doesn’t cost much or take much time, but it can rejuvenate a tired-looking property. Use bright, neutral colors as they make rooms look larger and more welcoming. Also, it provides a blank slate for potential buyers or renters.
You can paint the property yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. If the property has floorboards, then you could also paint those to further liven up the property.
Plastering Patching
Plaster is a building material that you’ll find on every property. It’s an extremely strong material that can last for decades if it’s well looked after, but the trick is to make sure that it gets the care that it needs.
Damaged plaster is unsightly and, even worse, can cause further property damage if it’s left untreated. It’s common for plaster on walls and ceilings to deteriorate over time, beginning to crack or crumble as the seasons change or as the result of water damage.
Plaster repair services can patch up this crack and allow the plaster to last for longer. This will make the property easier to sell or rent. Even better, if you plan to rent out the property, then keeping the plaster maintained will save your money over time.
It’s important to ensure that the damage isn’t merely covered up so that you know that the repair job will last. As a landlord, it will be your responsibility to keep the property maintained. This includes keeping the plaster strong and secure. This will help you to preserve and improve the integrity and value of your property.
Exterior Work
The outside of your property, like the front door, will create an immediate impression on any potential buyers or sellers. If the exterior is poorly maintained, then the viewer may think that the interior is similarly uncared for.
The good news is that it isn’t difficult to make sure that the exterior of your property looks neat. While a landscaped and artfully crafted garden is always beneficial, you mainly need to make sure that the exterior is free of debris and is kept tidy.
Remove any trash and powerwash driveways and yard areas. Keep any lawn areas mowed and remove weeds when they appear. Trim any shrubs or larger plants.
You should also take care of the outside of the building. Check the plaster and exterior paint and, if you see any cracked or peeling paint, repaint the property. Check the roof to make sure that there is no damage and, if there is, repair it. Clean out the gutters and check the drains.
It sounds like a lot of work, but each job is relatively expensive and you can do most of it yourself. More importantly, it has a massive impact on your curb appeal.
