People often ask us here at Great Point Properties what it is they can do to get their house rented; here's a few tips to help make your home more marketable and stand out in the rental inventory.

Photos:  Photos sell your home, its the first thing people peruse when considering your rental home over the next. Its best to let us come in and do a walk through of your home and photograph it using our camera or provide us with professional photography. This is a great example of what we mean.  We take into consideration lighting, photographing the room on an angle and highlighting the best features of your Nantucket rental property.

Linens:  Our tenants love fluffy white towels and new linens; a great time to stock up is after holiday sales or on sites like Overstock.com. Look over your linens at the beginning of each rental season and discard those showing wear and tear. And why white you ask? Your cleaners can bleach them during the turnover, keeping them looking fresh and new. 

Electronics: The days of vacationing without a TV are a thing of the past; flat screens are priced very reasonably as are DVD players. Its worth the investment to have your tenants happy and you as homeowners will enjoy them too. 

Internet:  Internet access is a must, especially when we are trying to foster longer term rentals. The days of being totally disconnected are no longer a reality and tenants are now expected to be in touch with their office even when away. Wireless is even better. Please be in touch with your Internet service provider well before the season starts to ensure a successful rental experience for your first tenant.  Internet is most often the deciding factor when choosing one home over the next. 

Create attractive and comfortable living spaces:  De-clutter. Create inviting spaces for your tenants to enjoy. Slip covers are a good idea in theory, and increase the longevity of your furnishings, but after one sitting they look unsightly. Get ones which are custom fit or those with zippers. Designate eating areas that keep tenants around the table instead of in front of the TV. 

Outdoor showers:  If you are on the fence about installing one, do it. Tenants vacationing on Nantucket love outdoor showers, it enhances the whole beach experience. It helps keep sand out of the home and off your floor. And please make sure they're enclosed too.

AC: This is becoming another popular amenity that tenants seek. If your home does not have central air, perhaps consider window units or fans for the bedroom. I got a $6.99 one from The Christmas Tree Shop about 5 years ago and its still going strong. The little money spent in the beginning has a far more valuable return.