Renting a House? Be Wary About Making Major Interior Decorating Upgrades by Urbain Beck
Your budget should be the first consideration before you spend anything on improving the rental home. They say that renting is flushing your money down the toilet … spending a lot of money on improvements is like flushing your money down several toilets. You get nothing back other than improved living conditions or perhaps a grateful landlord who benefits from your money and work.
Some homeowners may allow the renter to make minor decorating changes such as hanging pictures, painting the walls or installing shelving. Extensive decorating work such as replacing the flooring, tearing down walls or adding skylights might not be considered acceptable by some property owners. Some landlords might approve of this type of extensive work so long as the work is to be done by a someone other than you, such as a professional contractor. Think about it … why on earth should you pay a lot of money in making major improvements to someone else’s property when you receive no tax or other benefit? You are better off making do with minor interior decorations and improvements and holding onto your hard-earned cash so that it will collect some interest and can be used as a down payment for your own property.
Before Redecorating, Check with the Homeowner
Reading and understanding your lease is the first thing you need to do. The lease contract might clearly prohibit certain improvements. It is unlikely that the lease will spell out each and every possible type of interior decor activity, so check with the homeowner before making modifications to the rental house. It is a good idea to get a written statement from the homeowner that sets forth the landlord’s approval of your modifications.
If It’s Iffy, Just Don’t Do It
As a renter, if you’re not sure whether you can perform a specific decorating activity and you are unable to reach the homeowner, it’s best to not make any changes. Being cautious will save you time and money in the long run, especially if the landowner demands that you to undo the changes.
Some Quick Decorating Tips
Regardless of whether you are renting a home from a landlord who permits a lot of changes or is very restrictive, there are some easy things that you can do to upgrade the home decor. Best yet, you can keep these improvements and take them to your next home (preferably, the one you buy) instead of investing in someone else’s home that you will not be able to recoup.
RUGS – If the carpet or tile in the rental home is stained or just plain ugly, cover it up with attractive area rugs or throw rugs.
ART AND PLANTS – If the wallpaper is hideous and you’re not allowed to repaint or change the wallpaper, hide it with some nice artwork. Large, leafy houseplants like Ficus trees add a touch of class to a home and can cover otherwise ugly spaces.
DECORATIVE FURNITURE – Nice furniture will change the look of a rental home. Futons offer an affordable decorating option. Cheap futon covers are available in a variety of colors and patterns that can change the look of a room. Spice your futons up with some colorful throw pillows and the room will take on a whole new appearance. For cramped spaces, futons are great. Use them as a couch or chair by day and a bed at night.
LIGHTING – Play with light to create a sense of ambiance and draw the eye toward art or other features in the room instead of the defects. Traditional lamps, canister lamps or tree lamps can be used to direct light. Just plug them in and don’t worry about having to change the light fixtures or having to install dimmer switches.
About the Author
Urbain Beck loves to write … and also loves the versatility and economy of futons. Begin your rental home redecoration by taking a look at the incredible futon designs that are available nowadays at http://www.futonheaven.com.
Tags: Myrtle Beach Real Estate, Myrtle beach rentals, Myrtle Beach resorts
