DIY Home Staging Ideas for Student Homes

If you are a landlord looking to let your property, why not consider renting it to students? You may be worried about renting out your place to young, energetic, potentially rowdy people, but that’s just a common misconception, mostly reinforced by movies.

The fact is, renting to students can actually be both convenient and profitable.

Guaranteed income

Students typically enter into long-term contracts for around a year or so to avoid the hassle of packing and moving in the middle of the school year. This means you can anticipate having income from rent throughout the year! Additionally, students get their rent money from school loans or part-time work. They also have guarantors, usually parents, who can cover the expenses in case student tenants fail to pay.

High demand

If your property is within a university area, then your house is in high demand. Every year, new students from across the country are accepted to universities and are looking for accommodation in or around the university. This is a good incentive for homeowners to let their property for more income.

Easy-to-meet expectations

Students, unlike older and more established adults, have fairly easy-to-meet expectations. Students are generally on a budget, so they look for places that are simple but functional. You don’t have to spend much on expensive furnishings and top-of-the-line home features; just the basics. These are common items on a student’s checklist:

• Running water
• Electricity
• Heating
• Accessibility to transportation and university
• Basic household appliances like a washer and dryer
• Simple but adequate kitchen
• Separate bedrooms depending on the number of tenants
• Bathroom with hot and cold water
• Fire safety features and evacuation plan: This should be a minimum requirement for the safety of both tenants and the property.

The above amenities don’t have to be top of the line, but they should be hygienic, safe, and in good condition. As you can see, these are basic items compared to what other renters may require and should not be difficult for any landlord to provide.

DIY Home Staging Ideas

Now that you know what students look for in a property when renting, it’s time to set yourself apart from your competitors.

Home staging is preparing or styling your home for a potential buyer or renter. Staging, whether it’s for a physical visit or just virtual staging, doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, homeowners can choose to DIY it!

First impressions count

While students are not that hard to please, it’s important to put your best foot forward. A clean and clutter-free front yard or entryway makes your home look more inviting from the get-go. A fresh coat of paint in the doorway or having a welcome doormat gives a pleasant start to the home tour.

Keep things clean and simple

Before staging the house, make sure the place is clean. Any adjustments or décor you make in the house will shine even more when the area is clean. Mopping the floor and scrubbing bathroom tiles can make a world of difference. Make sure to remove dirt and dust, which can not only look like the place is unkempt, but cause allergic reactions. Don’t forget to wash the windows, so the place will look even brighter with more natural light coming in.

To keep things simple, try editing or reconsidering your furniture arrangement. Removing bulky pieces will make the house look more spacious and conducive for relaxation after a long day on the campus.

Remove personal items

Depersonalizing is key to helping the students see the potential of the place as their future home. Remember to take down family portraits in the living room and hallways. Try not making the bedroom look too much like your bedroom by removing personal photos or your favorite stuffed toys. Make sure to also keep your personal hygiene products away from the bathroom during home staging. Decluttering and depersonalizing creates more space and allows students to better picture themselves as the tenants.

Add warmth and nature

While you want the house to look clean, it’s important to also make it look like the student’s potential home. A well-lit home with pops of color from potted plants or flowers is more pleasing than a perfectly manicured house. To achieve this warm look, make sure that you’re not obstructing any windows to let as much natural light as possible in.

You can also paint walls a more neutral color, so students may find it easier to see how to decorate the place when they move in. Neutral walls also make colors pop even more. A simple way to add a pop of color is to buy cheap flowers and place them in any vase or empty jars you have. The flowers will be more visible now that you have neutral colors around it. In the kitchen, you can purchase oranges or any bright colored produce, and place them in a bowl on the counter.

Show how they can make it their own

Remember, the home visit is a way for the students to see if they can picture themselves living there. Highlight your home’s functional features like storage space, which is important for those who are moving out of their family homes for probably the first time in their lives. They would most likely not know how to pack light and would want to take as many things that remind them of home with them. Furthermore, because you are home staging for students, highlight specific areas that they can use for study. A study area with a simple, refurbished bookshelf and work desk can be valuable for students who prefer to read and learn at their own pace.

Renting out to students is a great option for landlords. Not only do you get a steady income from rent, but you also don’t have to worry about spending to please high-maintenance tenants.

If you want to know more about the benefits of renting out to students and how to get reliable tenants, get in touch with us at hello@hybr.co.uk!