I had always planned on some point either having a airbnb or a rental property in my basement. I worked on my mom’s guest house over a couple of weeks with the idea that she might someday may want to rent it out besides giving guests a place to stay. The idea has never been far from my mind to purchase old properties to restore and then keep as rental homes. Sounds like a ton of fun for someone like me but the risks have held me back so far!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

There’s nothing quite like designing and organizing your own home. You get to choose where everything goes, what colors to paint the wall, how to design the overall layout, and hang your pictures and artwork all over the wall.

Helping a friend can be just as enjoyable, even if they get to make all the final decisions.

But what about designing a rental property? You could have just about any tenant move-in and not everyone may share your same style or you may simply be trying to attract a certain kind of tenant.

When it comes to making your property move-in ready, it’s best to try and take care of some of the projects yourself. Not only will you make sure everything is done on your schedule, but you’ll also be saving plenty of money instead of hiring a contractor. You’d rather save up money to put back into your property or buy a new one!

Below, we’re going to run through some necessary DIY projects in order to make your rental property as nice as possible.

Boost Your Curb Appeal

While this walks the fine line between lawn care and DIY, it’s still necessary to boost your curb appeal. Not only are you going to raise the value of your house, but you’re going to make it more attractive to prospective tenants.

If the house doesn’t have a garden, make a small garden out front or design a footpath from the driveway to the front door. Keep the flowers fresh and well-maintained or plant some trees in the front yard as well. Trees will help keep your house safe from the elements while also bumping up your home value.

Redo the Floors

There are going to be countless feet walking through your house, so it’s best to make sure you have nice floors to cover everything. If you’ve got carpet, you might want to consider ripping up and replacing it with tile or laminated floors.

Why? Carpet is much more difficult to clean and can change color quickly. While a deep clean for your tile floors involves mopping, a deep clean for your carpets means someone is going to go rent a carpet cleaner.

They’re also not going to hold in odor like carpets would, meaning your floors will stay cleaner and sturdier longer.

Replace the Cabinets

Two of the most important rooms in the house are the kitchen and bathroom. While you might have ideas about renovating both, that’s costly for giving them a new look.

Instead, consider doing a medium size project like installing new cabinets. Not only are they going to be sturdier and long-lasting, but they’ll give the kitchen a new look without having to destroy your wallet.

Install some new cabinets for the bathroom too, or maybe just put in a new shower head or sink. You might be surprised how a small change can make a big difference.

Reconfigure the Lighting

One of the big trends in today’s house design is bringing in lots of natural light. Look around the property and see if there are any places you could exploit for their natural light, such as adding a skylight to the bathroom or adding bigger windows to the living room.

If that’s not an option, then you could always install new lighting in order to brighten up the room. While you’re at it, replace any ceiling fans you have so there’s nothing wobbling around during summertime.

Install Some 21st Century Items

This isn’t to say you should turn your house into a Jetsons like place to live, but you can upgrade certain parts of your house.

There are plenty of home security systems to install that no more than a few hours. Install a smart thermostat so you’re helping lower the utility bill while also being environmentally friendly. You can also install smart light bulbs or kitchen appliances if the place is coming furnished.

Painting

Much like replacing kitchen cabinets, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a room or the outside of your house. When painting, however, remember to choose neutral colors as you want to make your property as attractive as possible to everyone.

It’s also a good time to examine the walls for any cracks or holes and make sure they’re repaired before opening it up for tenants.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)