The Top 4 Dealbreakers For Renters — and how Homeowners Can Avoid Them

No house is perfect, but some imperfections matter more to residents than others: what are they, and how can homeowners address them preemptively? We share 4 dealbreakers that have the potential to turn residents off completely.

These 4 issues are the most common dealbreakers for residents, but don’t worry — fixing these issues with Belong has never been easier. Soon you’ll have residents clamoring to live in — and love — your home.

1. Appliances not up to snuff

The first thing many potential residents check is the appliances.  A dated refrigerator, a stove that doesn’t live up to what today’s foodies are expecting, or a dishwasher that has seen too many Thanksgiving dinners.

These might seem like small problems to a homeowner, but to a future resident, they indicate that a house hasn’t truly been loved. After all, a homeowner doesn’t care about the house enough to take care of these kinds of issues, why would a future resident It starts the relationship off on the wrong foot

If the idea of replacing any of that seems daunting — and you’re tempted to say “Let the new resident take care of it” — our advice is: Don’t. You’ll end up taking more off the rent than the improvements will cost you. And thankfully, Belong Pros – teams of contractors and craftspeople employed by the company full-time —  will be able to handle these replacements. 

2. A ‘bad’ neighborhood

Maybe your home is perfect, but the neighborhood isn’t. Although homeowners have no control over the surrounding area, they often have first-hand knowledge of hidden gems that potential residents might not know about. Fun neighborhood restaurants, bars, parks, and other attractions help make the resident feel like they already belong. 

Prepare a list of “Why I love this neighborhood” and make sure potential residents get to see it.  Belong is the unique property manager who knows how to market houses to overcome even something as difficult as the wrong neighborhood.

3. Closet space (or lack thereof)

Belong has never heard of someone who says “I want LESS closet space.”  So what are your choices without undertaking expensive and time-consuming construction?  

First, try organizing potential storage space in clever ways to maximize a home’s livability (and lovability). Here are “Ten Easy Hacks that Will Make Your Small Closet Feel a Lot Bigger.”

You also might want to look downstairs; we love these “24 Smart Basement Storage Ideas for an Insanely Organized Space.”   It’s the perfect place for out-of-season clothes, and along those lines HGTV tells you how to build a closet in your garage.  

4. Price

A potential resident adores your home. Then the price comes up, and the light vanishes from their eyes. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a technology that can help you find the right price — the Goldilocks price — that will make homeowners AND residents happy. Wondering where you can find that technology at the same place where homeowners will find lots of goodies that no property manager has offered before? Check out Belong Home’s “Market Pricing Optimization” model, and discover the sweet spot - and profitable spot - of your home and the current market conditions.

Finding the right resident is hard enough without having to convince them your home is lovable. Luckily, if you keep the tips above in mind, sharing your home is easier than ever.