Building houses for rent requires one to cut costs as much as possible. Here are some hacks you should know.
1. Paint finishes – Odds are, once a tenant moves out, you I’ll have to repaint again. With this in mind, consider paint a house in Matt as it is cheaper to paint during construction and to repaint after tenants move. Always skim the walls very well in preparation for the final coat. This reduces the paint you need to finish the house.
2. Avoid hinges and other moving parts on kitchen cabinets – Depending on your rental value, these are some of the items that are most likely to break, so having open shelving goes a long way.
3. Spring for a good sturdy Kitchen counter – Depending on your budget, go with something that is extremely difficult to break and easy to clean. Concrete topes, granite, tiles etc. are all acceptable options.
4. Avoid boards that are affected by water or if not avoidable, ensure they are protected. This is to avoid having to replace too much due to damage.
5. You don’t need an expensive toilet and sink set – Most people don’t know the difference as long as it functions well.
6. Choose an external finish that ‘self cleans’ or is easy to clean. This will save you on maintenance costs and your place will always look presentable. Masonry, textured stucco and rough cast are some of the durable finishes.
7. Invest in adding touches of nature to your rentals. It makes the place look nice and welcoming.
8. Coordinate all your house services well. If there is one area you are allowed to spring for quality, it’s services. Electrical faults are expensive, water issues are messy and if you don’t coordinate your data provision, you will have cables everywhere and it won’t be pretty. Don’t forget to be generous with the outlets.
9. Don’t design with the current trends in mind. Always go with a classic look that can withstand the tea of time. You should also allow for ample space in the rooms. These two combined will allow you to transcend decades because space never goes out of style.
10. If you are going to use floor tiles, go for the Matt type instead of the glossy type. It ages better.
Finally, Set your rental price yourself. If you are patient enough and the demand is there, they will come. I hope some of these have been useful to you. Build wisely!
