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Furnishing rental properties
homepack interiors
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Before you even think about buying furniture for your holiday home you must ask yourself an important question. Are you going to rent out your property? If the answer is yes then you should change the way that you go about furnishing your property.
Personal preferences will have to be put aside; we are not furnishing a home but making an investment that will generate an income. It is a business, and as with any other business you want to get the best returns from any investment made. I am not suggesting that you go out and buy the cheapest furniture that you can find, stick it in the property and leave it - like one of those old musty Butlins chalets that I spent many a holiday in as a kid. I still remember them, especially that smell, and to date that memory puts me off renting holiday homes.
What I am saying is that you should furnish with your head not your heart. Furniture should be good quality that will withstand the rigours of your tenants. The overall style should be one that will appeal to the widest range of holidaymakers, They do pay to be there remember so your decor and furnishings should project the image of a property that is warm and welcoming.
It is not an easy task, you must strive for the right effect without breaking the bank. It is about paying attention to detail, accessories can make a house into a home, but don’t over do it making things too personal or cluttered, some people feel uncomfortable if they feel they are intruding into someones home.
Buy durable furniture visitors tend to treat high quality items with more care and respect. Moreover, they’ll stand more wear and tear and you won’t have to replace them so often. Use, where posible, treated fabrics that resist staining, making sure all covers are removalble and washable. Have arm covers made in matching material, as it is the arms that tend to get dirty the quickest. For cheaper wall decoration, have picture frames made up from the same material as the sofa.
If you want real durablity consider wrought iron or wooden sofas, these may look a little colder but are perfect for holiday lets as they will last for years and you just need to change the cushion covers for a whole new look. Make sure that sofas are deep enough as some are quite benchy and not so nice to sit in.
Keep bed linen simple plain white or cream easy iron bed sets are best and that goes for towels too. All bedrooms should have mirrors or a dressing table, it is important to have a place for cometics, however, if your bedrooms are too small consider having a small shelf under a mirror instead of a table. Mattress protectors are a must, nothing worse that a stained mattress to put people off (Butlins again), and you do not want to keep replacing mattresses.
With so many people using the internet, promoting property has become very visual. Houses must now create impact with dramatic colours being used against the plain white back drop of the walls, I have noticed colours changing - last year terracottas were more popular while this year tuquoise is gaining ground. To stand out you will need to make a statement, but do not forget that durability, easy clean fabrics and protective covers will are small tings that you can do to keep your enterprise profitable.
