Preparing Your Property for Summer

You always hear people talking about ‘winterizing’ their properties for the cold months, but there are also things that need to be done to prepare your property for summer.

Summer is one of the most active times of the year for the rental market. Students and Graduates move to London for internships and jobs and families are more interested in moving whilst the children are on their summer holidays.

If you’re a landlord, this makes the summer a potentially lucrative period, and you should do everything you can to prepare your property for a flurry of activity. This means anything from physically preparing a home for the heat to presenting it in the best possible light.

Here are some thoughts on how to ‘summerize’ your property:

- Inspect your air conditioning unit

Remaining optimistic for hot temperatures right around the corner, you don’t want your tenants to be without cool air. By inspecting your central air-conditioning system and fixing any issues, you can keep everyone happy and comfortable!

After making sure the air conditioning unit is in good working condition, you’ll want to check to see that all air vents are open and free of obstructions, such as rugs, furniture.  It’s good practice to ensure the air conditioning unit is serviced/cleaned annually and to ensure all the filters are clear of dust etc…

- Test smoke detectors and security systems.

While this isn’t necessarily a summer-specific tip, it’s as good a time as any to test smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and security systems and ensure they’re functioning properly. Even if they’re in good work order, consider replacing the batteries to extend their life.

- Tend to the garden

One of the benefits of winter is that you don’t have to deal with as many landscaping issues as you do during the spring and summer. Once the warm months come along, however, you’ll need to make up for lost time. Simply, trimming shrubs, pressure washing dirty surfaces, and planting fresh flowers can make your property much more attractive and desirable.

It is also advised that if your property is brought to the market unoccupied that you not only ensure the above is taken care of but also that it has been professionally cleaned but at the very least the windows are cleaned inside and out.  No matter how lovely the property may be on the inside, if you can’t see out of sparkling clean windows, it can be very off putting!

Summer is the best time of year to present your property, so don’t miss out because you aren’t prepared!