As the year draws to a close and the festive season approaches, it’s common to feel the pressure of keeping your space tidy and organised.

But beyond simply creating a more comfortable living environment, decluttering and optimising storage can also have a significant impact on your property's value and appeal, which can help if you're considering selling in the new year.

Here are six storage solutions that not only help you manage your belongings but also enhance your home's marketability.

Loft space

With a bit of creativity, lofts can become a useful storage space and major selling point. By turning your loft into an organised, accessible storage solution, you can not only make your life much easier but also increase the value of your property. Installing sturdy shelving and proper flooring makes your loft a safe and practical place to store decorations, suitcases, or unused items. 

Built-in wardrobes

Freestanding wardrobes can be bulky and take up valuable floor space. A solution to this is installing a built-in wardrobe, which can be customised to fit your needs and bedroom designs. The sleek, modern look of built-in wardrobes also helps to increase property value, which is key if you decide to sell your property.

Under-stair storage

The space under the stairs is often overlooked, but it presents a great opportunity to create a clever storage solution. Installing pull-out drawers, shelving, or even a small coat cupboard can ensure you make the most of the space, making more room for furniture or festive decorations.

Organise kitchen cupboards

Kitchens can become cluttered with gadgets and ingredients, especially at Christmas time. Eating leftover snacks, discarding out-of-date ingredients, and organising your cabinets can help make cooking Christmas dinner and baking festive treats much easier.

Invest in bathroom storage

Bathrooms are often short on storage, so adding shelving, a vanity unit with drawers, or wall-mounted cabinets can transform your space. Keeping toiletries, towels, and cleaning products neatly stored away helps make even the smallest of bathrooms feel larger.

Outdoor storage solutions for garden essentials

If you have a garden, outdoor storage solutions are a must. A garden shed can help you neatly store tools, outdoor furniture, or children’s toys, leaving your garden looking tidy. Keeping the exterior of your property free of clutter improves kerb appeal and demonstrates to buyers that the outdoor space is low-maintenance, which could add value to your home.

Investing in buy-to-let is an exciting endeavour, but like any financial path, success isn’t guaranteed without hard work and dedication. 

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the secrets of how to be a successful landlord and see what separates the high-flying landlords from the rest.

1 - Always staying up to date about the market

If you’re a landlord and you’re not completing thorough research about the rental market, then you could be stumping your chances of any growth. The UK rental market is forever changing with regulations, prices, and demand. By keeping yourself in the loop, you can adapt your goals and strategies to current market trends, allowing you to thrive.

2 - Secure the right financing 

A key factor in becoming a successful landlord is securing the right financing. Explore different mortgage options and understand which one will work with you. Mortgage options vary with interest rates, deposits, fees, requirements, and terms, so finding the right one for you is crucial.

3 - Always know your figures

Running a successful business relies on you understanding your figures and making sure your finances are in order. This means understanding each property's outgoings from operational costs and repairs and the monthly rental income. If you haven’t got a clear understanding of your expenses and return on investment, then you can’t calculate your profitability as a landlord.

4 - Have a property plan

Having a plan and knowing what you’re wanting out of being a landlord is a vital part of success.  Plan your target market and location by identifying an area with high demand and a promising future outlook. This will help you understand what type of properties are right for you and your future tenants to invest in, minimising void periods and maximising rental yields.

5 - Understand the appeal of your demographic

When you’re trying to become successful, you need to tailor your business strategy to what your demographic wants, ensuring you maximise your return on investment and avoid void periods. Certain features, such as open outdoor space, multiple bathrooms, neutral décor, or offering a fully furnished property, will appeal to many potential tenants. So, complete research and understand what your demographic wants in a home.

6 - Have an extensive tenant screening process

Problem tenants are the worst for landlords, wasting time and money. The extensive screening process can be achieved through credit checks, employment checks, and past references, ensuring you are protecting you and your property from any problem tenants.

7 - Having good tenant-landlord relationships

Successful landlords understand the importance of customer satisfaction as it boosts long-term tenancies and positive reviews. By always treating your tenants with respect, being transparent, and addressing their problems in the property, you will ensure a harmonious tenant-landlord relationship. By following this, you are sure to maximise your return on investment and dodge void periods in your properties.

8 - Be organised

Being a successful landlord comes with juggling many responsibilities, so by maintaining an organised schedule, you are sure to have a smooth, efficient, and successful business. These responsibilities can vary from regular property management and maintenance to staying on top of legalities, keeping track of transactions, contracts, and communication between you and tenants.

9 – Expand your portfolio gradually

It’s a good idea to re-invest the profits you make on your first investment into expanding your portfolio. With the right advice from the necessary professionals, you can increase your cash flow and make the most out of owning several properties and receiving multiple sources of income.

10 – Employing a reputable letting agent

Working with a professional letting agent can make your journey as a landlord a lot more efficient. Many letting agents provide a property management service. They can help find you suitable tenants, ensure you’re meeting legalities, deal with disputes, maintain organisation, and collect rent. Don’t limit the growth of your business and enlist the support of a letting agent.

When buying a property with the intention of flipping it, it’s important to consider whether the renovations you’re making are worthwhile. As such, here is the ultimate guide on how to spot a property with potential to add value.

Is the property in a desirable location?

Location is one of the most important factors to consider when it comes to determining the value of a property. Sometimes a property with potential is ‘the worst house on the best street’. This is why location is key, as you can’t change a home’s surroundings, but you can certainly improve the home itself.

Does the property offer space for conversion? 

A decent-sized loft or basement is something that you should keep an eye out for. These empty spaces offer the opportunity to add another bedroom, bathroom, or living area, making the property more spacious and, in turn, more attractive to buyers when it comes to selling in the future. 

Can the layout be improved with minor change? 

Try not to dismiss properties that are very segmented in their layout. Often, homes with separate rooms can easily be transformed into an open-plan layout. Keep a close eye out for properties where there is a small kitchen next to a large dining room that could be knocked through or a bathroom next to the main bedroom that could be transformed into an ensuite. 

Does the property have the potential to improve its EPC rating? 

It’s important to not disregard properties that currently have a low EPC rating. There are many ways you can increase an EPC rating by installing insulation, double or triple-glazed windows, a new heating system, energy-efficient bulbs, and many more. Selling the property in the future with a bad EPC rating will affect the value to potential buyers, so enhancing energy efficiency is a worthwhile investment.

Can all the property’s negatives be fixed?

When viewing a fixer-upper, you need to identify all the negatives so you can understand how simple it would be to solve them. You can provide the property with new windows and a paint job, but you can’t move the property away from a noisy main road. By having this in-depth screening of the property’s negatives, you can identify what changes you can approach efficiently.

How an agent can help

It can often seem that properties with clear project potential are hard to come by, but by enlisting the support of an expert agent, they can help you find the perfect fixer upper. As well as finding your dream home with potential, we can also support the sale of your current home, creating ease throughout your entire property journey.

As autumn sets in and the end of the year approaches, landlords across the UK are gearing up to fill their rental properties before the holiday season arrives. Finding a tenant before December can present some unique challenges, so here’s a comprehensive guide to help you secure a tenant quickly and efficiently.

Prepare your property

First impressions count, so make sure your property is in top condition to attract potential tenants. Spend some time on necessary repairs, touch-ups, and deep cleaning. Additionally, you could consider enhancing kerb appeal with some eye-catching seasonal decorations or a welcoming wreath on the front door.

Set an attractive rent

An agent can help you set an attractive rent by researching current market rates in your area to establish a competitive rental price. While maximising profit is important, pricing too high can deter potential tenants. Be realistic and consider offering incentives such as utilities included or a reduced first month's rent to attract quality applicants.

Utilise online listings

A letting agent can utilise their online presence and take advantage of various online platforms to advertise your property. They will use high-quality photos and detailed descriptions to grab the attention of their network of potential tenants. 

Screen applicants thoroughly

Once inquiries start coming in, applicants should be screened rigorously. A letting agent can handle the process for you by requesting references from previous landlords and conducting employment verification and credit checks. This ensures that potential tenants meet your criteria for reliability and financial stability.

Offer flexible terms

Consider offering flexible agreement terms to attract a wider range of tenants. Short-term tenancy agreements or month-to-month options can appeal to tenants seeking temporary accommodation or unsure of their long-term plans.

Provide excellent customer service

Respond promptly to inquiries and maintain clear communication throughout the application process. A positive landlord-tenant relationship often begins with a smooth and professional interaction. Opting for a fully managed package means your tenants are taken care of by professionals from the offset, which can be an invaluable service if you operate on a busy schedule.

Stay informed about legal requirements

Ensure you comply with all legal requirements and regulations regarding rental properties in your area. Stay updated on tenant rights, eviction procedures, and safety standards to avoid potential legal issues.

Enlist the help of a letting agent

If managing the rental process becomes overwhelming, consider hiring a letting agent to help you with all aspects of property management. They can handle marketing, tenant screening, tenancy agreements, and ongoing management tasks on your behalf.