Can any landlords offer help in renting out our much loved home?

[hooliodancer]

For various reasons, we will be renting out our house in the new year.

We are spending around 5k getting it up to scratch- New blinds, full redecorating, new carpets and flooring. We have done everything to kind of match the rest of the house. It is, I suppose, a high end finish.

It is in a posh ' the much sought after' area. It has huge kerb appeal. Because it has been our home it has a very nice kitchen with range cooker, Fired Earth bathroom. I'm just trying to describe it, not trying to be grand or anything! It is a Victorian 2 bed cottage. I thought we would be here forever, hence we did it up not thinking of getting a return. We just chose what we loved.

My question is, will it attract a higher rent because of this, or is it just the same as properties which have been maybe bought to let so might be more basic?

I am hoping that because of the nice interior and cute factor of the exterior we are more likely to get a high earning couple who might stay a good few years. Is this pie in the sky though? Am I deluded?

We have a buy to let (had if 30 years, it was bought to be our pension) but it has basic kitchen etc, hardwearing carpet. We have had tenants in there for 10 years, and 6 years recently.

Our family home seems like a different kettle of fish though... maybe I am being to emotional?!

I hear you about the fence! It is only wonky, not broken. Quote to fix was £2k they need to replace the whole thing, not just the wonky bit, so trying to save money as we are skint, I was prioritising!!!

I suppose I don't understand the rental market very well, as I assumed the high end .fittings would achieve a higher rent. I guess it means we get tenants quicker though?

Our BTL has never (touch wood) had an empty period. The kitchen and bathroom in that are certainly not high end. I always feel a bit guilty about the 1990's kitchen to be honest.

I think the point is that a rental house should be consistent across the board, because what the tenant cares about may not be what you care about.

You care more about a cooker than the garden fence, but for a prospective tenant, they might be equally important so might be expected to be of a similar standard.

Be prepared for the fact that a tenant might see the fence and see that as 'the general standard of the house', while you might see the top class cooker and see that as 'the standard of the house', if that makes sense.

It does make sense. I think it is because we spent SO much money on what we thought was our forever home, I kind of want a bit of return on that, as we would get if we were selling. Although I realise the kitchen is too good for the house, we were told that by the estate agent when we were selling.

So, another question. We need to refloor our tiny conservatory. It is £600 for gardens which would fit with the house. Or £150 for vinyl which will be clean and new but obviously a different standard of finish. What do you reckon?

Gardens was meant to say Kardean.

We have karndean and it’s pretty hardwearing.

We’ve had various other sorts of damage to the house but no one has so far managed to damage the flooring in the kitchen.

For £150 though it wouldn’t be unreasonable to save the money just now and replace when you eventually move back in.