It can be tough to find extra storage space when you’re renting, which is why a home with plenty of cupboards and shelves is more appealing to tenants.

Everyone needs somewhere to put their clothing, linen and seasonal items and having options helps to keep a home clean and tidy. Consider the following storage tips as a way to add to the appeal and value of your rental property.

Top five storage ideas for investment properties

1. Use vertical space
   Vertical space presents a wealth of untapped storage solutions. High cabinets or shelves around the ceiling can be perfect for little-used items. A folding step ladder can easily be tucked away when your tenants need something from the top shelf.
   A clever storage idea is to use every inch of closet space by hanging tension rods. The more you can hang, the more room there is in drawers for other items. Hanging clothes can also take up less room than cramming them into drawers.
   Around the home, simple additions like hooks on walls will give your tenants a place to store items like keys without taking up floor space with side tables. You can also mount lights on walls rather than using standing lamps that take up room.
2. Get creative with furniture
   Furniture can have more than one use. Whenever a piece of furniture can be used for storage, you are saving space.
   Bench seats with lift-up lids make great additions to rental properties and also save tenants from having to buy too much furniture. If you’re leasing a fully furnished place, choose coffee tables with drawers, ottomans that double as blanket storage containers and beds with inbuilt storage.
3. Add shelves and cabinets
   A small kitchen is easier to organise with some additional shelves; for example over the doorway. If your investment property has a garage, mount some wall shelves or grab some flat-pack shelving units from Bunnings so the space is easier to organise and keep tidy.
   These are low-cost storage ideas that will add to the value and appeal of your investment property. Spend a little extra for cabinets and things will be saved from getting dusty.

4. Think like a tenant
   Some common advice is to never buy an investment property somewhere you wouldn’t want to live yourself.
   When you make your purchase, have a look around and think about how you would make the most of the space. If a hanging rail in the laundry would make life easier for you, your tenants probably feel the same.
5. Renovate with storage in mind
   Your property manager will explain to you that tenants love new (or at least new-ish) kitchens and bathrooms. If you plan to give yours a once-over, think about designs that incorporate pull-out drawers in the pantry and for the rubbish bin (this will free up floor space).
   
   Put cupboards in the bathroom if you can for towels and personal items so they don’t have to be left around the sink and on the window sills. Throw in a few cupboard organisers for products and soap; your tenants will be grateful for the convenience.
   
   In the kitchen, add racks for pot lids and somewhere for storing wine (if you think your target audience will appreciate this feature).
   
   Your property manager can help you identify the low-cost, easy wins to add storage to your rental home. Reach out for a chat about how a few changes can improve your investment’s appeal to tenants.
   
   Looking for more advice to improve the value of your investment property? Contact our rental team today on 07 5501 4000.