Prepare Your Home For Rentals

The rest of the world has perked up to the joys of home rentals for side income thanks to Airbnb. Meanwhile, Augusta has had this rental gig going for decades!

If you are a newer homeowner or you’re on your first renting experience, you’re probably feeling a little bit overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done as we get closer to the big rental week. In order to get your house into shape, you’re thinking about your guest’s first impression. Ie- your yard what they see as they walk through your door.

You might also be thinking about the friendly details that you feel are a priority. Is your gift basket perfect? Are your toiletries full and topped off? Do you have the beautiful, fluffy towels and linens that your guests will be expecting?

These things definitely create a welcoming vibe with a big impact. However, if your home is without a solid foundation of quality decorating and finishes, your guests will forget all about that cute first impression and start questioning every detail. The last thing you want is for your guests to feel uncomfortable and to focus on finding problems.

To prioritize that solid foundation, here are three things that you should pay attention to as you’re planning your home remodel and getting ready for a rental week.

First: Plan Well In Advance

The best way to make sure that you’re going to be ready for 2022 guests (my condolences on 2020 and 2021) is to start remodeling now. Make your list of projects, small to large and schedule month by month. Set your budget and get started today!

Plan for “big rocks first” since large projects are guaranteed to take twice as long as a reasonable person would expect. Work backward and assume you need to be finished in January for April guests. This will keep you clear of the frenzy of last-minute projects by all of your neighbors. You’ll want to be sipping tea at the end of March, not fretting on whether there is a tile man in the whole of Augusta that will ever show up as promised! This is the moment to fluff your towels.

In a perfect world, you should be scheduling the small projects at the rate of “one every month” to make sure again that March is not a train wreck of stress.

And if I’m talking to you and you’re a procrastinator, here is my tale of woe for those who delay! If you’re reading this a few months before your tournament rental, it is crunch time. It will be extremely difficult to find a reputable contractor with availability when you need someone last minute. Good contractors are booked out for several months. Even during less busy times of the year. Meanwhile, those who are available may be disreputable who are raising their prices because they know they can.

Pay for the Quality You Expect

If you’re shopping and your main priority is the price, beware! You might actually find someone with an amazing steal of a rate. However, that bottom dollar price puts you at risk. When it’s finally your turn to get the work done, there will be “truck problems”, “sick child problems”, “cell phone troubles”, and a host of other excuses for not starting your work or returning your calls. And in our experience, we’ve learned that the reason your project was dropped is because they’ve found someone willing to pay a dollar more. You are no longer a priority.

Instead of using price as your deciding factor, I would recommend a purchase decision based on the quality of the work that you expect. If you’re only remodeling once every seven years, or even less frequently, it’s not likely that you’ll have the expertise that comes with frequent purchases. A kitchen remodel budget is normally about 10-15% of the value of your home. Do you want to gamble with this big of a purchase? Or do you want to go with someone who has proven methods and a track record as a great tradesman?

Where do you find proven winners? Ask other tradespeople. People in the business know, because they run into other good work (and bad work) every day. So hire a small job that requires only one day. And if you like and trust this person, ask for referrals for “high quality” contractors. (Do not mention the price. Just ask for the best quality.) They’ll offer up great information if they think you truly want quality over price.

CertaPro Painters is usually one part of many trades coming in and out of a home when there’s a big remodel. We see all types of work and levels of professionalism- from great customer service to horror stories unfolding at our customers’ homes continuously. We get referred by bathroom remodelers, roofers, hardwood installers and every imaginable trade. And likewise, we are not shy about referring the good guys we encounter.

Be Flexible

And finally, if you have a large renovation project going on with a lot of complex parts and moving pieces, what you need most is flexibility. With multiple vendors in and out of your home, each relying on the other to get their projects completed before they can come in with their piece, you need someone who is able to go with the flow when little hiccups inevitably happen. Going with a larger company like Certapro ensures that level of flexibility. We have a large roster of painters so we are able to rearrange our projects in order to provide you with the flexibility that you require when you’re having this many tradesmen in your home at once.

If you’re just getting started with your big renovation project, talk to Certapro first. We’re happy to hold your hand and guide you through your next steps in order to complete your project to the quality level that your guests will expect. Reach out to us today to schedule your free in-home or remote estimate and we will be happy to talk to you through our many layers of reassurance and certainty.