If you’ve invested in a second home you will want your property to look and feel like a home-from-home, so that you and your family and friends can relax and enjoy your well-earned breaks. If you own a second property and view the purchase as a potential source of income – by letting the property throughout the months you do not wish to vacation there, or as a full-time Let – you will want your second home looking as smart and presentable as possible, to attract suitable tenants.
Making your property look good, whilst keeping the inventory list at a manageable level, and staying within budget is achievable with a little thought. After all, why spend a huge amount of money kitting out your home with designer touches if someone else is going to benefit from the use of the luxurious accessories?
Quality and durability will always top the list of standards, when it comes to selling your property. Providing these requirements throughout, even for letting purposes, will guarantee all tenants benefit from fixtures and fittings that stand the test of time, and they will appreciate your attention to detail.
Ins
A well-fitted, good quality kitchen that has plenty of storage, space and all the necessary facilities – a good-sized cooker/oven, double sink, integrated dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer, and plenty of workspace – will appeal to all potential home buyers or tenants. The colour, style and design of the fitted kitchen are not as important, although natural woods and light-coloured materials will be more highly desirable. A well-maintained and attractively presented kitchen will give your home added value.
With modems, WiFi and DSL now in mainstream use, ensuring your home has these vital communication connection points liberally scattered throughout your property will keep tech-savvy tenants and buyers happy.
En-suite facilities and a downstairs bathroom, in addition to the usual upstairs facilities, make a property more desirable. Smart, white and modern bathroom fittings are a must-have.
On-site, rear, adjacent or garage. Location almost doesn’t matter as long as there is a designated parking area belonging to your property.
A neutral palette of colour throughout your home will not only make the space look larger and more appealing, but also enable buyers or tenants to envisage their possessions in your home.

See the true cost of a second home or holiday let: the higher rate stamp duty surcharge, the deposit and equity you need, and the monthly running costs.
Try our Second Home Cost Calculator free, here on this site →On The Other Hand
Certain features may be attractive additions to your home, but may prove an unnecessary decorative indulgence when it comes to putting your property up for sale.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Outs
Sleek, modern storage may look appealing but sometimes doesn’t supply enough storage space. Fitting your home with adequate storage, that can be comfortably added to, will prove invaluable.
It looks smart. It cleans easily. It sounds terrible if you live in downstairs accommodation and there are young children running around on it, in the upstairs apartment. If you have to lay laminate flooring restrict its use to ground floor dwelling spaces.
A neutral colour scheme is by far more attractive to potential tenants and buyers. Dramatic graphic designs and floral prints may be up-to-the-minute but will seem over-powering, particularly if the individual rooms are smaller than you would like.
They may look great in the pages of the latest style magazines, but strong, bold, statement colours on your walls have a similar affect to the patterned, floral wallpaper. Buyers and tenants will rarely have the same taste as you, so keeping colours and furnishing colours to a neutral choice will save you having to decorate.
Top-of-the-range, expensive, state-of-the-art kitchen appliances may good look but are a pain to keep clean. Why give yourself more to do when you could be spending time enjoying your property and holiday?
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