Washington DC property managers should always be thinking about how to improve their rental properties to increase revenue and interest in potential tenants. In 2018, the best way to improve your rental property is to improve the environment. Renters are excited by sustainability, so whatever renovations you can make on your rental property to make it more eco-friendly, the more interest your rental property will generate. Here are 5 sustainable housing trends that should be on property managers’ radar.
Smart Homes
Creating a smart home does not necessarily mean completely revamping your rental property. There are small, easy ways to give your rental property smart home elements without completely re-doing the house. In fact, some smart home changes require zero renovation. All you have to do is replace certain products in your home with their smart alternatives. Automated thermostats are an excellent and sustainable feature that allows tenants to regulate the temperature in the rental property from their smart home. With an automated thermostat, renters can make the most out of their HVAC systems, so they don’t waste energy cooling or heating air when they are out of the house. Automated security systems are another great way to go. These will attract safety-concerned tenants and make home security easy to manage.
Water Filtration
Bottled water is an environmental atrocity. Since bottled water technically is no more filtered than tap water, the national dependence on the bottled water makes no sense. Invest in a water filtration system and advertise it to your tenants so that they know there is no longer a need for bottled water.
Renewable Energy Systems
Renewable energy systems are becoming more and more prevalent. Solar panels are an excellent way to power your rental property. While this sort of a sustainability upgrade will take a big chunk of change up front, it will save money in the long haul since you will be generating your own power. Not only that, many homeowners and rental property owners are switching all of their gas appliances over to digital appliances. If you can spring for solar panels or some kind of wind-generated energy system, go for it. The investment will pay off in the long run.
Sustainable Landscaping
Originally, green, grassy lawns were a way of showing off wealth. They were a way of saying “Oh, look how rich I am, I can afford to completely waste this property rather than use it for farming.” Now, the green grass and white picket fence combination feel outdated and overly traditional. Instead of planting the same old grass with the highly structured flower beds, opt for plants that grow naturally in your area. This will save water and allow you to cut back on fertilizer and pesticides. Since sprinkling chemicals onto the Earth are not usually the best practice as far as sustainability goes, this is definitely a great idea.
Net-zero Homes
Net-zero homes are the next big thing. In fact, in California, all new-build homes will have to be net-zero by 2020. Net-zero means that your rental property will create at least as much energy as it uses, therefore using zero energy when energy spent and energy created are combined.
Need Help Finding Tenants?
Once you have upgraded your rental property with all the best sustainability trends, you will want to get renters inside the property as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to get professional help. Property management companies can handle the tenant finding and screening process. At Keyrenter Washington DC, we’ll help you get your rental property occupied as quickly as possible so you can make the most out of your rental property.