Paint yourself into a letting

If a newbie landlord ask me pound for pound what is the most effective thing you could do as a landlord to let your property or increase the rent.

Undoubtedly it would be give the place a lick of paint. Not even the wood work. A single coat of all conquering emulsion may not make your buy-to-let into a palace, but it will smell fresh and look clean. PERFECT!

I met my regular decorator at one of my buy-to-lets last week. A lovely guy called Kevin and I think he likes me by his quote. Two hundred quid plus materials to give my two bed maisonette a spruce up.

I've always used Wickes paints in the past. Apparently Kevin said that these were previously made by Johnstones paint - the Rolls Royce of paint production. However no longer and he complained that it recently took 4 coats just to cover one wall using the new Wickes paints. Something to bear in mind if you are paying your painter by the hour!

I'm hoping that the place is given it's new lease of life by the end of this week.

Then we'll see whether the job has the desired effect when I try and relet.

Landlord insurance - professional rates here