Celebrity property expert Phil Spencer has continued to champion the belief that landlords should always be investing in the properties they already have, to keep them competitive and desirable in a high-demand market - improving the ROI long term.
The easiest, cheapest and most noticeable way to achieve this is through a property's furnishings. Indeed, industry research regularly provides hard evidence that tenants are always willing to pay more when it comes to their monthly rent, if properties are already furnished.
So, we've put together a list of our favourite high street retailers - in terms of overall quality and financial outlay – so you can get your property partially or fully-furnished and ready to earn a better return on your investment.
DAALS
Based at the end of the M69 in Coventry, Daals is a family-owned business that has grown massively since it began nearly a decade ago. It is now considered a major player in the retail arena, gaining popularity for its unique, quality design, at prices that are affordable.
The retailer often gets coverage in newspaper household style guides and interior design magazines, such is its focus on striking, yet practical design.
Daals caters for lounge, dining room, bedroom, garden and storage solutions, offering everything you need to add flair and comfort to a home and make it stand out.
IKEA
The Swedish giant still provides a balance of affordability and quality goods that’s hard to beat. Indeed, it’s biggest draw of flat-pack furniture convenience has been bolstered with more premium products that cost more, and there’s now a delivery service (a feature the company resisted for many years) - however that does come at additional cost.
Aside from it’s furniture line-up, Ikea caters for so much more when it comes to kitting-out the household, and even offers options for those with sustainability in mind, including bathroom taps that can reduce water consumption up to 50% and furniture made with renewable wood.
John Lewis
You can expect a step-up in the overall quality and an increase in the price bracket a tad with John Lewis. The department store provides a great range of products for every room in the home, with a comprehensive online presence in the form of its website that's bulging at the seams. You’ll be able to find what you want quickly and arrange delivery.
Also, keep an eye on the John Lewis sales section for some really great end-of-season or end-of-line bargains. John Lewis also provides a number of interest-free credit options and the Partnership Credit Card with further rewards and benefits.
Sofology
If you want somewhere that specialises in one thing, then Sofology’s expertise in making people comfortably and stylish in their homes will tick all the boxes.
With a fantastic range of leather and corner sofas, as well as recliners, chairs, sofa beds and other accessories, at Sofology it’s easy to kit-out a property with all the important stuff in one fell swoop.
Not only do Sofology provide a variety of ways to pay, but their aftersales support is the stuff of legend as well.
The sofa specialist also offers a new service called Loop, a sustainable and efficient new take on filling you home. Loop allows you to rent furniture that you can keep for as long as you want and then swap them when you want a change. Find out more about sofa rental here.
Other options worth considering
You don’t necessarily have to go down the brand-new route, either. Another alternative is using recycling websites like Free Cycle and Gum Tree where there’s opportunity to find unwanted furniture of all types, in great condition that are either affordable prices or totally free.
Facebook Marketplace or local selling groups are also good ways for finding items that can save you money but are still of ROI-boosting quality for the type of home you're creating.
Pick your style, whether it's traditional or something more modern and minimalist, choose the furniture that will help prospective tenants fall in love with your property.
