If you are renting out your apartment, you must feel prepared and ready to do so – this minimizes the likelihood of anything going wrong or getting in the way, leaving you feeling anxious and stressed. You’ll want to make sure the apartment is clean and fresh, with a focus on the main living area, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
How Do You Declutter and Deep Clean Your Apartment?
Decluttering is step one! Making sure the apartment is free from mess and personal belongings or valuables is really important. Separate everything into three main categories: things to keep, sell or donate, and completely get rid of. Your first point of action should be to tackle each room at a time and create three piles – make sure you have plenty of boxes and bags ready to pack everything away.
Step two is all about the deep clean. Take it either room by room or task by task, whichever works best for you. Make sure you do all of the following:
●Dust each room, including all the nooks and crannies
●Vacuum each room, and use carpet cleaner on any carpets
●Mop any hard flooring
●Clean skirting boards, window sills and shelves
●Wash any cushion covers
●Clean inside any cupboards, and neatly arrange anything being left inside them
●Use glass cleaner on all windows and mirrors
●Sanitize touch points like light switches and door handles
●Deep clean kitchen appliances like the cooker, refrigerator and microwave
●Deep clean the bath, sink and toilet
●Clean up any stains, mold and grease marks
Be sure to pay extra attention to high-traffic areas, and check hidden spots like under the refrigerator and behind the TV!
How Can You Create a Welcoming Living Room?
You want the living room to be inviting and look spacious – make the most of the room by adding a mix of textures, popping a mirror on the wall to make it look bigger, and including home touches like coffee table books or dried flowers. Décor elements like this will really enhance the ambience of a room, as will rugs, lamps, throws and knick-knacks.
You should optimize natural light in a living room, too – don’t cover windows with thick or heavy curtains, and use light or bright colored paint on the walls. Glass and metal ornaments can also help to enhance the light in a room.
Transforming the Bedroom
The bedroom should be the most calming room in an apartment, and you can achieve this by choosing a neutral color scheme. Beige, grey, mauve, taupe and sage green are great examples of this, and you’ll find plenty of accessories to fit in. Get clever with storage solutions like a divan bed with a drawer or a chair which has a lid to store things inside. This helps to maximize the space.
Bedding and pillows should be comfortable year-round; opt for breathable materials and thermoregulating properties, as they help people sleep better. Add some blankets and extra cushions to the bed, giving tenants the option to use them or not – this means people can sleep in a way that really suits them. You can also upgrade your mattress with a mattress topper which gives it a brand new feeling without spending a lot of money. This extra layer enhances an old mattress, offering comfort and support to whoever is sleeping on it!
How Can You Prepare a Functional Kitchen?
Kitchen remodeling is not always an option but there are other less expensive options to consider in the kitchen. Once you have deep cleaned the kitchen, you may want to stock the cupboards with basic essentials like salt, pepper, cooking oil and condiments. Make sure they, along with cutlery and crockery, are neatly organized and accessible. You can also add some essential kitchen utensils like sharp knives, a spatula, a wooden spoon, etc. Tools like a toaster or coffee maker will look great in a functional apartment kitchen if you want to go the extra mile.
It is vital you make sure that all appliances - cooker, microwave, refrigerator - are in perfect working order, functioning well and safety tested to the required standard. They also need to be spotlessly clean! Keep some kitchen cleaning products under the sink, too, just in case.
Revamping the Bathroom
After you’ve finished your deep clean of the bathroom, make sure there are no mold or mildew issues in here. Use anti-mold paint to touch up any problem areas, and if it’s really bad then contact a damp specialist to rectify the problem. Make sure all fixtures and fittings are working properly and looking nice; if they’re old and rusty, replace them. Ensure the water pressure is good, too, as there’s nothing worse than a shower which just trickles out! The bathroom needs proper storage as well – somewhere to keep toiletries, towels, toilet roll and bathroom-specific cleaning products.
Attention to Details
It goes without saying that you should check and repair any obvious maintenance issues or damage – holes in the wall, peeling paint and so on. Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing them if broken, and make sure you have a working fire extinguisher. All utilities, especially in the kitchen and bathroom but also any TVs or hairdryers, need to be in good working order too.
Final Touches
Make some nice finishing touches to the apartment by adding in some artwork, potted plants (even fake ones!), coasters, and anything else you think would fit in well. Prepare a welcome package for new tenants with any information they might need to know about the apartment and the area – you can add in a bottle of something or a nice packet of biscuits for an extra touch. Conduct a final walk through of the apartment to make sure everything is ready, clean and presentable. And that’s it, your apartment is ready to rent.
Preparing Your Apartment to Rent
Deep cleaning every room and making sure everywhere is nicely decorated with ample storage and plenty of comfort is key for ensuring your apartment is ready and prepared to rent out. You want something that is both welcoming and functional as well as being clean and tidy. Following these tips will ensure you’re successful in this endeavor!
