Owning a small apartment is a great investment opportunity, especially in urban areas where space is at a premium. However, maximizing the rental income from such properties can be challenging.
It requires strategic planning and thoughtful improvements that enhance the value of your apartment while attracting and retaining quality tenants. If you are confused about how to make your real estate portfolio as profitable as possible, you are not alone. Here, we have come up with six effective ways small apartment owners can boost their rental income.
Offer More Amenities
You have a packed up schedule with work activities and other events. Most individuals neglect activities such as laundry, house cleaning and grocery shopping amidst the job duties. You can partner up with third service providers to offer such amenities and charge more rent from your tenants.
If you have a significant capital improvement budget, you can think of adding amenities like a fitness center, community garden, or a dog park to add more value to your rental property. Doing so will definitely appeal to the tenants, and they will agree to pay more rent for the facilities they are getting.
Use Smart Digital Platform for Rent Collection
Streamlining rent collection with a digital platform can enhance tenant satisfaction and ensure timely payments, ultimately boosting your rental income. Use a smart rent collection platform to avoid any hassle of collecting rent. Such platforms can be used by the tenants as well as the landlords. Tenants are notified of making the rental payments on due date so that they can save themselves from late payments.
On the other hand, as landlords, you don’t have to chase tenants to pay rent. So, say hello to a stress-free rent collection and save your precious hours every month.
Furnish Your Apartment
There has been a shift in the priorities and preferences of the tenants after the pandemic. A specific target market has emerged for long-term furnished apartments. Also, the popularity of remote work has given the people the choice to explore many new parts of the world. Now people are more open to find a place to stay where they can live for as long as they can like a more permanent property.
Hence, you need to furnish your apartment in the best manner possible to attract the tenants. Add stylish and functional furniture, enough drawers, shelving units and cabinets to justify a higher rent.
Avoid Vacant Periods
As clichéd as it may sound, find long term tenants. It is one of the best ways to maximize your rental value and it definitely works. Long term tenants lead to fewer vacancies and fewer income losses which in turn means less hassle in finding new tenants. However, you can’t stop the inevitable circumstances. So, whenever any vacancy comes up unexpectedly, put your best foot forward to reduce the turnaround time.
Advertise your property as soon as you get the notification by the tenant. You can even hire a real estate agent to find the tenant quickly so that you can avoid losses from vacant periods. Follow the strategies of flexible lease terms and effective marketing to encourage tenants to come to your property.
Durable and Attractive Flooring
Flooring plays a significant role in maintaining tenant satisfaction and thereby boosting rental income. So, it should be your one of the prime focuses for investment. Having old carpeting in the rental property deter prospective renters to take the apartment on rent.
Thus, replace the old flooring with engineered hardwood to make it a more attractive space. Some other popular flooring options are – Luxury Vinyl Plank, Porcelain or Ceramic tile, laminate flooring to name a few.
Moreover, the preferences of prospective renters should be kept in mind. For instance – a rental property catering to the needs of pet owners require different flooring upgrades as compared to the property whose target audience is young professionals in hunt for modern and stylish living space.
Security Features
Invest in security upgrades in your rental apartments that include security systems, reliable locks, and gated entryways. Prioritizing safety for your tenants shows that you care about them and you are able to yield increased rental rates. Tenants are willing to pay more rent for their safety.
Some practical security upgrades that you can think of including are – smart home security systems, window locks, outdoor security cameras and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Being proactive in maintaining tenant’s safety is a win-win situation for both landlords and inhabitants alike.
To Make a Long Story Short
Boosting rental income from a small apartment involves a combination of strategic enhancements and smart management practices. The improvements mentioned above not only attract and retain quality tenants but also ensure a steady and enhanced rental income stream. As the rental market continues to evolve, staying ahead of tenant preferences and maintaining a well-appointed property will keep your small apartment competitive and profitable.
