Attracting a New Tenant

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to summarize opinions from a focus group discussion.

NEWSCASTER: Everyone has to move at some point of their life. And I don't know anyone who enjoys it. Maybe your landlord raises the rent so you have to move out of your apartment and find something cheaper. Maybe you get tired of living in a small condo and decide you want to buy a house. But whatever the reason, if you want to move out, then you'll probably have to find someone to move in.

NEWSCASTER1: Today, I'm going to give you a little advice about how to attract a new tenant or buyer to your old home... so you can move onto something better. Eliminate clutter. Get rid of clutter! Every home looks better with less stuff. You've probably collected a lot of junk over the years.

NEWSCASTER2: Don't let a prospective buyer or tenant be distracted by your cluttered shelves and comic book collection. Clean off everything from kitchen counters. Remove books from bookshelves. Put extra furniture in storage. A house always looks bigger when there is less furniture.

NEWSCASTER3: And cleaner! De-personalize. Remove family pictures, nick knacks, antiques, books, and magazines. Prospective buyers and tenants don't want to imagine you living there; they want to imagine themselves living there. Personal items will make it harder for them to imagine the home as their home because it will still feel like your home.

NEWSCASTER4: In addition, keep decorations as neutral as possible. Have the walls painted a simple white or beige. Sure, you expressed your personality with a living room that was vividly painted in red. But that's you. If they don't like red, they might not buy.

NEWSCASTER5: Neutral wall colors, soft lighting, simple art. Present a home that is ready for them to make their own. Make repairs. Any little problem could make a prospective buyer move onto the next house. Have leaky faucets repaired, have your walls painted in pleasant, neutral colors.

NEWSCASTER6: Check for cracks in the floor, and if there are any, have the tiles or floor replaced. Get someone to fix that door that doesn't always close all the way. Replace light bulbs if they're burned out. Don't give prospective buyers any reason to think negatively about your place. It could cost you the sale.

NEWSCASTER7: Beautify. Clean your house inside and out so that it sparkles! Every window, every floor... scrub inside your refrigerator, and polish those mirrors. Dust the furniture and clean out spider webs. If cleaning isn't your best talent, have a housecleaner do the job.

NEWSCASTER8: Also, check the curb appeal. Go outside and examine the house from there. Do you mow the lawn and keep the grass looking green and alive? Does the paint on the house look fresh? Are the bushes neatly cut?

NEWSCASTER9: This is the first impression prospective buyers will have. If the house doesn't look good from outside, they may never make it inside. Make any home look its best, and you'll be handing over the keys in no time!