Preparing Your Home or Condo for Rental

bedroom

Preparing your home or condominium for rental is much like preparing it to be listed for sale. Photos have become as important in the rental market as they are in real estate sale, as most people looking to rent will begin their search online.

Freshen and Clean—We recommend thoroughly cleaning your property from top to bottom; if you do not have the time or inclination to do this yourself, we can recommend a service. Replace any furniture that shows wear and tear or stains. Repaint any surfaces that show stains, scuffs, or damage.

Limit Visibility of Personal Items—Store children’s toys, magazines, newspapers, and family photographs. Remove calendars, refrigerator decorations, bulletin boards, and anything that could date your photos (example: seasonal decorations).

Clear Clutter—To make your home look more spacious inside, you may want to decrease the amount of furniture in each room and carefully group what is left. Clear kitchen and bathroom counter tops, and limit objects on surfaces. Make sure toilet lids and showers are closed. Trim back books and knickknacks, and remove your closet contents. On the outside, remove empty planters, hoses, trash cans, games, balls, pet houses, etc.

Brighten—Before you start snapping photos, create as much light as possible. Turn on all interior lights, and open up drapes and blinds for maximum amounts of natural light.

Accessorize—Add “pop” to each room: attractive vases, colorful afghans, and new towels are all quick, inexpensive options that make a big difference. On a broad counter top, display one small attractive object (for example, a unique espresso maker) to provide scale and perspective. Outside, replace dead plants and add bright-colored flowers in pots or planted in the ground.

Now that you’ve gone through all of this work to stage photos for your property, it should be in great shape to start being shown to prospective renters, as well!

About the Author
julia young

Working in real estate has given me the opportunity to share this special place. I am honored to offer my sellers and buyers the knowledge I've gained from years of real estate experience, but more importantly, to share their passion for the ski resort and the Bethel area. Whether you are buying or selling, I will communicate, advocate, and share my expertise. I fell in love with Bethel as a Gould student athlete, but I grew up skiing the slopes of Sunday River and Mt. Abrams with my family every weekend,  and it's where I learned to ski at four years old. Skiing as a family was a choice my parents made and one of the reasons we moved to Maine.

I started my real estate career in 2000, and have built and sold several homes in the area. I currently live in Bethel with my daughter, Charlotte Lambert. She attends Gould Academy and among her many interests is a passion for ski racing. She is learning the student athlete balance and a love for the outdoors. 

We are the official real estate company for Sunday River, and in turn, we have the largest marketing base of any real estate company in the area. We cover the entire western Maine mountain region, selling homes, land, waterfront, house packages, commercial, and seasonal rentals. The ski industry and Sunday River move at a fast pace. Working with Sunday River Real Estate affords our clients the most up-to-date information about the resort. For expert knowledge of resort changes and real estate developments, please join our newsletter. I look forward to working with you!