Cheap Ways to Fix Your Rental Home (before inspection date)
Inspection dates have the horrible propensity to sneak up on you. Suddenly you’re immersed in a whirlwind of cleaning to try and make up for your slovenly ways over the past three months between inspections.
As Blu Tack is now banned from rental property walls, the days when you can cover a multitude of sins with a poster are now long gone. In lieu of that, here are a few of the cheapest ways to brighten up your home (and rental history) before the real estate agent comes through.
Bleach
I admit, bleach is very bad for the environment. It’s not something you want hanging around your home, and anything you require gloves to use is a little worrisome. But if there is a stain that won’t shift in your bathroom, bleach may be your only ally. Dilute it and scrub. The results do tend to verge on the miraculous.
Cost of lifesaving measure
$4.50 for 3 litres. That should last you a long time. Bicarbonate soda is also exceptionally cheap, and it is environmentally preferable to bleach should your conscience be twitching at the thought.
A toothbrush
Nothing gets to grouting or gunk on the sink like a toothbrush. They’re small and they take a long time to get the work done, but they’re absolute devils when it comes to getting to the tricky spots.
Cost of lifesaving measure
$2. Yep that’s all!
Pillows, Throws and Beanbags
Get creative. You can’t hide a red wine stain in the middle of the lounge room floor, but if it’s to the side of the room, put together a ‘meditation’ corner. Have a yoga mat? That’s perfect for the bit of carpet that got torn on your new heels. Pillows and throws brighten up a room, and is always a help.
Cost of life saving measure
With a bit of innovation and creativity, you can use what you already own and do it all for free.
Lamps and something in the oven
If it works on prospective buyers, it’d have to work on hungry real estate agents. You don’t actually even have to bake, just use a few drops of vanilla essence on a baking tray and heat the oven to moderate.
It makes the kitchen smell delightful, and hopefully distracts from the new rip in the lino. Lamps are like makeup; they show up your best features, and cover up the less good ones.
Cost of lifesaving measure
The cost of half an hour of electricity, and a bottle of vanilla essence, maybe $3.
Retaining your lease
The best way to ensure you retain your lease and will get back your bond one day is to make a thorough list of all the defects in the house once you move in, including photos.
Go through the house and note everything that is damaged, and include it in your rental contract. Make sure if something gets damaged, through no fault of your own, that you notify the real estate agent in writing and ask for confirmation that they have received it.
Wear and tear happens, if the landlord or real estate agent is being unreasonable, contact the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy tribunal for help, there is one in every state. The Department of Fair Trading has a good guide to the process here
And no matter how much we’d like to pretend it isn’t the case, elbow grease is often what’s called for to make your home beautiful. Put your favourite Paul Kelly album on loud, your oldest pair of overalls and make a day of it.
What cheap tips do you have to fix up your home?
Rental, your own – whatever, how do you clean up your home on the quick?
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