Staging a Rental: How to Rent Your Home for More

Television shows about real estate - from House Hunters to Fixer Upper to Selling Sunset - have never been more popular. Through shows like these, many Americans first became aware of the concept of staging a house. Often used by sellers before putting their home on the market, staging involves removing personal items and adding furniture and decor to attract buyers.

Staging is also helpful for rental properties. When you stage a rental unit, it allows prospective tenants to imagine themselves living there - and can help to attract interest through online photos. When done right, traditional or virtual staging can help ensure your rental property isn’t vacant for long.

Whether you are looking to rent your home for the first time or are an experienced landlord, Eaton Realty can help. We work with individuals and families throughout the Tampa area to help them buy, sell, or rent their homes. We also offer property management services for investors in and around Hillsborough County, Florida. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help.

Want to learn even more about how to increase your rents in Hillsborough County? Contact us to speak with an experienced Hillsborough County property manager.

Why Should You Stage a Rental Property?

Staging a home is a fairly common practice for sellers. When potential buyers view a home, they want to imagine themselves there. Removing excessive personal items and adding some temporary furnishing and decorations can make it more attractive to prospective buyers.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), staging makes it easier for buyers to see themselves in the home. 23% of realtors also noted that home staging increased offers by 1 to 5%. One survey even found that staged homes spend 33 to 50% less time on the market than houses that aren’t staged.

The same principles apply to rental properties - especially in the modern era. Most people start searching for a rental home online, and photos and videos of a staged rental property are simply more attractive than an empty house.

When you stage a rental property, it can create a cozy, move-in-ready feel. It also showcases the property's potential and allows you to highlight certain features. For example, if there is a nook at the top of a staircase, you can stage it with a desk and chair to show its potential to be used as a home office or study area. Staging may also make the property more attractive to tenants looking for a long-term lease, which can reduce turnover and costs associated with a vacant investment property.

Staging a rental property often differs from staging a home you are putting up for sale. In most cases, the rental unit will be vacant. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge. While you typically won’t have to worry about taking stuff out of the home and storing it, you may need more furniture and decorations to make it look good.

Of course, staging may not always be the best choice for a particular unit, and it may also not be necessary in a hot rental market, where there is a lot of competition for properties. However, staging might be a good option if you have a hard time finding a qualified tenant.

How to Stage a Rental: Top Tips

Many landlords choose to hire a professional to help them stage a rental. There are usually companies with a stock of furniture and home decor that they can move into a rental unit to make it shine. However, before talking to a staging professional, landlords should take time to prepare the property.

Assuming tenants just moved out, the first order of business should be a deep clean. While most landlords require tenants to do at least a basic clean-up before vacating the premises, rental properties usually need a more thorough cleaning. Cleaning should include everything from carpet cleaning to a deep clean of the kitchen and bathroom to ensure the home is fresh, deodorized, and looks its best in listing photos.

Next, landlords should go through the property to see if minor repairs, upgrades, or maintenance may be necessary. A fresh coat of paint can often work wonders and give the unit a clean, bright appearance. Similarly, swapping out a dated light fixture or an old appliance can give you a great bang for the buck.

At this point, you’re ready to start staging. Below, we list our top tips for staging a rental property.

Consider Curb Appeal

The first thing prospective renters will see when visiting your property is the outside. Before staging, landlords can take some time to trim shrubbery and freshen up the landscaping. A staging company may also bring porch furniture and decor (if necessary) to show off the outdoor living areas and make the space shine.

Think about the Entrance

The next thing that potential tenants will see is your home’s entryway or foyer. This is an easy area to overlook, but it is important. Adding a nice rug, some hooks for coats and a place for shoes can help people imagine living there.

Accentuate the Positive

In any given property, there are features that you want to highlight - and those that you would like to hide. Consider what makes your rental property unique or desirable, and ask the stager to focus on those areas. For example, if you have great built-in bookcases, ensure they are staged so that prospective tenants can see the potential.

Keep It Neutral

Staging a property aims to help renters (or buyers) picture themselves there. Using bright colors and bold accents could make it hard for someone to see themselves living in your unit. Soft neutral colors - like light blue, yellow, and gray hues - can create a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Of course, what is considered “neutral” may vary by neighborhood. If your rental property is near the beach or in a funky artistic neighborhood, you can probably get away with a more unique style.

Keeping it neutral also means avoiding personalizing the space. Yes, it is your property - but you shouldn’t let your personal style dictate the staging. For example, you might be a UF alum and a diehard Gator fan - but you might turn off a great potential tenant who happens to be a Florida State fan. As tempting as it might be to sneak in some items that are personal to you, try to avoid it so that tenants can see themselves in the space.

Highlight How the Space Can Be Used

Many properties are fairly straightforward, with clear divisions between rooms. However, given the trend towards open living plans, it isn’t always easy to figure out how a large room can be used. Staging is an opportunity to give rooms a purpose. For example, if your property has a great room, you can set it up as a combination living and dining room, using rugs and other decor items to delineate the two.

Similarly, you can stage bonus rooms and other areas of the property to demonstrate how they can be used. A spare bedroom can be staged as a home office, while adding a table and chairs to a patio can show how the area can be enjoyed as additional living space.

Focus on Light

Natural light is a huge selling point for many properties. But even if your rental unit doesn’t have a ton of natural light, there are still things you can do to maximize your light - such as using sheer curtain panels and ensuring that the windows are sparkling clean. You can also use different types of lighting to create a nice ambiance, such as table lamps and wall sconces.

Consider Virtual Staging

With traditional staging, you will pay a professional to evaluate your rental property and then arrange their own furniture and decor in the unit. Depending on the property size and the furniture and decor you need, traditional staging can be expensive - costing anywhere from several hundred dollars to $2,000 or more!

For many landlords, virtual staging is a better and more cost-effective option. Instead of having a stager physically bring furniture and decorations to your property, a designer will use computer technology to add these items to pictures. In this way, your listing photos will be staged for far less money - and you can attract tenants searching for properties online. Just be sure that whoever does the virtual staging doesn’t go overboard; you don’t want prospective tenants to be unpleasantly surprised when they see your unit in person, and major features aren’t the same as in online photos.

Maximize Your Rents With Eaton Realty

Being a landlord can be challenging, particularly when attracting great tenants. Staging a rental property can be an excellent way to increase interest for some landlords. While there may be better options for some investment properties, staging can be helpful in a slow rental market.

Eaton Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage and property management company. Our Tampa property management company offers services to clients throughout all Hillsborough County. We know the market inside and out, and we can help you get tenants placed in your rentals at the highest possible rental rates. If you’d like to learn more, fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 813-672-8022 to talk to a team member.