December 11, 2018
What’s the Rental Value of My Home? How to Price Your Rental When you own a property that you intend to rent out, you want to know that you’re maximizing your investment opportunity, getting as much money from it as the market will bear while attracting the right tenants. Higher rent does not always mean better tenants. If you’re currently an owner of a second home, it might be time to reevaluate your investment as well as an opportunity to see where your home is in terms of other current rentals. Could you improve tenant loyalty, reevaluate goals, increase the monthly rate? Or, do you need to decrease to keep the five-year tenant who pays rent on time every month and keeps your home in great shape? First, things first – what is the current market rate for your second home? Current Market Rate Do you know the current market rate for homes that are similar to yours? This is different than what you believe your rental “should” rent for. Sometimes this is when the “rubber meets the road” – one of three things will happen at this stage whether you are first time landlord or a seasoned landlord. 1.) The current rate for your home is at or near the rate you are willing to rent out your home. Great, start marketing or interviewing property managers so you can start finding the best tenant! 2.) The current rate is nowhere near what you believe to be the value of your home. a.) Highlight the most attractive features of your home that tenants are looking for – you might allow a small dog, recently upgraded appliances, location, xeriscape landscaping. b.) Price your home at the rate you have determined the market to bear, prepare to adjust as needed. If you are not willing to adjust your price this will only increase the vacancy rate, or worse you have a desperate tenant who will eventually feel taken advantage of and not take care of your home as they feel they’re already doing you a favor by paying $1975 for a 1,100 square foot home. 3.) You realize it might be time to reach out to Realtor and consider selling to reinvest in another property. You have no interest in upgrades or improvements and the current rate does not meet your financial needs or goals. Now if you’ve decided you want to rent your property, determining how to price your rental can be difficult. When considering renting out your second home or re-evaluating your current rental. Here are a few ways to add marketability. The Closeness To Amenities All else held equal, most renters would rather be closer to amenities than otherwise. Consider how far future tenants might have to travel for schools, groceries, leisure, and work. Quality Of Appliances Most renters expect landlords to provide appliances, and they are often willing to pay more if those appliances look modern and reliable. Pet Policy Some property owners don’t allow pets, but if you do, you could charge a higher rent compared to similar properties. Quality Of Local Education In many areas, the quality of local schools determines nearby rental values. Homes closer to higher quality schools tend to be rented out for more. Years Since Last Renovation Rental properties need to be periodically updated and redecorated. If you have just renovated your property, the rental value should increase versus a property that has had the same decor for a decade. The Square Footage In general, the higher the square footage, the higher the rental value. However, the impact on the rental value of extra square footage above 4,000 square feet tends to be less than that of additional square footage above 2.000 square feet. The Number Of Bedrooms The more bedrooms, the higher the rental value of the property. Outdoor Space The size and quality of outdoor space can affect rental market values. Patios, gardens, and good landscaping can all contribute to increasing the amount that you can charge. How To Price Your Home When pricing your home, you need to consider all of the above factors and then compare how your property stacks up next to others in your area. Look for similar properties and how much landlords are charging for rent. Ask yourself whether there are any reasons you could potentially ask for more money. The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides data on the current state of the rental market across the US, including average rental prices for different kinds of property by location. Check this to give a ballpark figure of what you could charge, given your property type and location. If you want professional advice on how to price your home rental, then you might want to get in touch with the team at Fox Management Services. They can offer guidance to help you efficiently price your rental property, ensuring that you make the highest return possible on your investment. You can also use house listing services online to look for what the fair market value for a rental might be. Some listing services provide tools that help you “find the rental value of my house” automatically, based on the above factors. And of course, if you need a Bend Property Manager we’d love the opportunity to provide property management services for you and your rental properties.