Increase Your Rental Kerb Appeal

Estate agents call it kerb appeal. It's that first glance at a property that tells you, almost without thinking, whether you're interested in living in it or not. And it's as important when you're renting as it is when you're buying. The key to buy-to-let success is making sure that your property is always tenanted. Find out how to "avoid the void" with Upad.co.uk, the online letting agent’s guide to finding a new tenant.

If your rental property makes a great first impression, you should have no trouble attracting new tenants when you need them. But if the outside is tired, scruffy or in need of repair, however nice the inside is, you may find yourself facing a longer void period than you'd like.

Follow our top ten tips to spruce up the outside of your property in an afternoon.

• Tidy up the front door. If the paint's looking faded or chipped, give it a quick coat of fresh paint. Is the number visible? If not, your viewers may not even be able to find you! Give all metal fittings a quick clean.

• Check the rest of the exterior paintwork and the windows. A quick clean of the windows not only makes the outside look better, it makes the inside brighter too.

• Check guttering and downpipes too. Nothing puts a prospective tenant off like having the gutter leak on them while they're waiting for you to open the door!

• If there's a gate, make sure it's tidy, clean and easy to open and close.

• If the property has outside lighting, make sure it's working properly. Replace bulbs and give light fittings a clean: grimy lights make everything look dirty. If there is no exterior lighting – especially if you're showing the property in winter – consider fitting some. It's good for security, and it makes the home look so much more inviting.

• How's the garden looking? Trim the grass. Cut back any plants that have been allowed to take over. Rake up leaves. And if it's a concrete wasteland, then add a few jazzy plants of your own: they make the place look cared for.

• Allow some time to tidy up any outside space in front of the house. Gardens and parking spaces always make a property more popular, but if they've become a motorcycle graveyard or are covered in abandoned toys, they'll just put people off.

• If there's a driveway, patio or path, make sure it's clear of debris, algae and moss: pressure washers make cleaning easy.

• Properties with shared entrances have their own special challenges. Be prepared to tidy hallways, stairs etc. even though those may not be part of your own property. In flats with shared hallways, time viewings to avoid mealtimes so your viewers aren't greeted with cooking smells before they even get through the door.

• Finally, always get there early when showing property so that you can have a last quick look around – both outside and in. There's nothing worse than having to apologetically tell a viewer that "it isn't normally like that".