TOP TIPS TO KEEPING YOUR PROPERTY UP TO DATE
KEEPING YOUR PROPERTY UP TO DATE: TIPS FOR LANDLORDS
The rate at which new buildings are coming up in this city is very encouraging. It only takes a year of not passing by a certain neighbourhood to have you wondering whether you are in the right place the next time you pass by there again. Several buildings will have come up and changed the landscape completely.
For tenants, this is good because they have more choices and will not have to put up with poor conditions such as poor drainage, unstable electricity and squeezed spaces. The following changes have been noted:
- Tenants are looking for a house that can fit their type of décor. This means they will go for houses that are well-lit and painted in plain colours. Therefore, a forward-thinking landlord would avoid shouting colours when it comes to choosing floor and bathroom tiles.
- While in the past the other bedrooms apart from the master were smaller, these days tenants are going for bigger bedrooms. It pays off to make all the bedrooms big enough to accommodate 6×6 beds as well as bedside stands.
- For shared bathrooms in houses, traditionally we had bathtubs installed. While having both the bathtub and shower cubicle is the best option, for small spaces a shower cubicle is preferred.
- Now that more and more people are working from home, it also means that more people cook and eat at home. Therefore, providing enough kitchen counter space is paramount. There should be enough kitchen cabinets or a pantry, space for a cooker and fridge and or freezer.
- Parking space is very important. More Kenyans are now driving and even if not, their visitors would need parking spaces.
When a long-term tenant has moved out, do not be in a hurry to get someone in before carrying out repairs and putting up up-to-date fixtures. For instance, if your house still has curtain boxes in Nairobi, it is high time you replaced them with curtain rods, install modern taps and change the flooring from PVC and terrazzo to ceramic tiles.
