Looking for ways to boost your Charlotte rental property’s curb appeal? We have some expert property management tips that we can’t wait to share with you today.

Your curb appeal is the equivalent of a first impression. The way you present your property to prospective tenants will determine whether they’re interested in even walking through the front door.

You want to invest in some great landscaping, cleaning, and eye-catching features for the outside of your property.

Boosting curb appeal is worth your time and money because it doesn’t only represent how your rental home looks. It’s also something you can use as a marketing tool. Good curb appeal reduces vacancy time and attracts better tenants.

Discerning tenants are more likely to schedule a showing for the interior of a rental if they’re impressed with what they see on the outside.

And we can help. Here are some of our expert tips.

Front Doors Should Stand Out

Update the entry!

Most tenants are going to enter through the front door of your property, so this is a natural place to start when looking for ways to improve the look of your rental home.

Think about this from the perspective of your renters: Would you rather walk through a clean, freshly painted front door or a door that’s covered in cobwebs and insects?

Sometimes, a simple coat of paint is all you need to make the door pop. A freshly painted front door will not only increase your curb appeal, but it will also give your rental home a new look and feel. If a brighter front door makes the rest of the house look dull, go ahead and paint the entire exterior. This should be done every decade or so anyway, especially in an area like Charlotte, where the sun and the wind and even the rain and occasional snow can cause problems for paint condition.

When the door seems to need more than paint, install a new one. Deteriorating doors are unappealing and they also allow too much hot and cold air into the property. So, when your door begins to deteriorate, it’s better to replace it with a new door that’s already primed, painted, and ready to be installed. It’s going to provide better insulation and look good as tenants approach the property for showings.

Clean Up the Outside of Your Rental Home

A dirty exterior is not going to draw good tenants to your property.

Consider pressure washing before you list your home on the Charlotte rental market. You can make your building or your house look brand new. While you have the pressure washer at work, use it on the driveway, patios, walkways, and any other surface that needs a good scrub.

While you’re in cleaning mode, take a look around at the walkway, the front yard, and the entryway if it’s a multi-family property. Keep the outside of your property free of disabled cars, trash cans, garbage, and an accumulation of sticks, leaves, and other mess.

A nicely mowed lawn is a great first start, but don’t be afraid to do a bit more. Trim the hedges and weed any flower beds or garden. You’re showing your tenants that you care about the aesthetics of your property and that you expect them to meet those standards.

While a garden can be great and complex landscaping looks good, keep things simple and low-maintenance. Curb appeal is critical, but you don’t want to chase away tenants who might worry they’ll have to take care of a challenging lawn. Discuss landscaping responsibilities and consider hiring a professional company to provide lawn services.

Windows and Blinds

Windows are easy to overlook as a landlord, but we always pay close attention to them when we’re getting ready to list a property. Here’s something you can try: Stand on the street and take a look at your windows. Do they look pretty, secure, and clean? Tenants aren’t going to want to see flimsy, bent blinds in the windows or huge smudges and mold growing around the gutters. You might be surprised at how the window coverings have deteriorated.

Replace any window treatments that are difficult to look at. Consider horizontal blinds that are made from sturdy plastic or wood so they don’t break and bend easily. Make sure the windows are cleaned and clean the gutters if they’re full and causing problems around the house.

Check Exterior Lighting

Lighting is a surprisingly big part of your curb appeal, even though tenants will mostly see your property in the daylight hours. They might drive by after dark to get an idea of how the neighborhood feels and what the house looks like at different times of day.

For curb appeal purposes as well as security purposes, you’ll want to deliver a well-lit home that’s secure and comforting. Property managers can give you a good idea of what tenants will want to see in order to feel secure. The right lighting will also create a welcoming and inviting ambience. We like a porch light that shows off your new door or even some solar lights in a path that leads to the front door or along the driveway.

Good lighting is about curb appeal, and it’s also about residents feeling safe. Tenants feel more secure when there’s adequate lighting outside, and statistics have proven that homes with outside lighting are less likely to be burglarized or trespassed upon than those that remain dark.

You can install a motion light on the side of the house or on the garage or any outbuildings. This will add to security and provide additional illumination for tenants who may be walking dogs outside or walking from car to home.

Not sure you have the eye for proper curb appeal at your rental property? We can deliver that expertise for you. Whether it’s for marketing purposes or in order to make your property more appealing, we can help. Please contact us at Wess Cason Realty. We provide real estate and property management services in Charlotte and the surrounding areas in Mecklenburg, Union, and Cabarrus County.