Outdoor Lighting Tips for Rental Properties

Outdoor Lighting Tips for Rental Properties

The rental property market is highly competitive. You need to stay on top of the game if you aim to attract or retain quality renters. Prospective tenants consider several things while in search of a rental property. Some aspects they check include the home's size, living room, kitchen, bathroom, appliances, cleanliness, security, safety, and curb appeal.

As part of the last three qualities, potential renters also inspect the outdoor lighting on the rental property. They want their safety and security when they move into the property. Landlords or property managers can leverage this by improving or boosting the property's outdoor lighting.

The lighting quality should be planned in a way that prospective tenants can use the property without fear of attacks from criminals hiding in the dark corners of the property. They should see anything that approaches their apartment at night.

High-quality lighting will also beautify your rental property. That is because it will highlight fascinating features of your property at night. As a result, your rental property will attract many potential renters.

Outdoor lighting helps to market your rental property. Your tenants will enjoy the rental property if it has good outdoor lighting. Depending on the available space, they can host outdoor parties, or they can get to spend more time sitting outdoors with their guests.

Just as the indoor lighting of rental properties is essential, outdoor lighting is vital. It would be best to approach the outdoor lighting with equal or more effort. This is because poor outdoor lighting can discourage potential tenants from renting the property even when the indoor lighting is perfect.

Here, we will explain what we mean by quality outdoor lighting, its effects, and tips you should use for your rental property.

What we mean by quality outdoor lighting

We measure good lighting using three properties. They include lack of glare, luminance, and uniformity.

·         Lack of glare

Glare blinds people and makes it difficult to see things in detail. It happens when the amount of light exceeds the need. Quality outdoor lighting should lack glare.

·         Luminance

Good lighting should illuminate the area of greater need in the proper amount. If it is not bright enough, then it is not sufficient.

·         Uniformity

Quality lighting should be uniform throughout the area. Some places should not be brighter than others. There should be equal luminance throughout.

The impact of quality outdoor lighting

When your outdoor lighting has all the properties above, it will have the following impact:

• Your rental property will be more attractive at night. You can take better photographs of the property and use them for your online marketing.
• Good lighting prevents creepy pathways or dark shadows on the rental property. As a result, there will be no hiding spot for criminals or animals.
• It takes nighttime outdoor recreational activities to a new level. As a result, your tenant will enjoy the outdoor space.
• Quality outdoor lighting secures your property and protects it from criminals.

Lighting tips for your rental property

1.      Create a map of your outdoor space

There are different outdoor areas. Each of them requires the appropriate type, quantity, and placement of lighting depending on your goal. Do you want to improve the functionality or aesthetics of the outdoor space? Some landlords may need both. The areas you should map include landscapes, patios, driveways, entryways, pathways, plants, and steps.

2.      Consider the different levels

There are three levels of outdoor lighting:

• Overhead lighting – provides illumination and security.
• Ambient lighting – illuminates specific outdoor areas.
• Table height task lighting is for functionality – helps people to perform their activities.

Sometimes it may be essential to provide spot lighting or up lighting to highlight unique outdoor features.

3.      Install path-finding lights

Your tenants or guests will need light to ease navigation in the outdoor area at night. It would be better to install pathway lights on the steps, entryway, driveway, and walkway. Doing so will offer safety and boost the property's aesthetics.

4.      Use different types of lights

For more aesthetics and functionality, you can vary the types of outdoor lighting. Some areas may require motion-sensor lights, while others will need steady illumination. Consider using LED bulbs because they use less electricity, produce less heat, and provide more brightness.

5.      Look out for dark spots

In between your lighting, there may be some areas with poor illumination. Check for such places and ensure you install lights to brighten them. There should be no dark spots on the outdoor spaces of your rental property.

6.      Use proper bulb sizes and placements

Undersized light bulbs and poor placement can ruin even the best outdoor lighting plan. That is why we recommend the position and effective radius of illumination before installing the bulbs.

The bottom line

As a landlord or property manager, you have many responsibilities to ensure that you beat the competition. Hire professionals if you want your outdoor lighting to create more impact. These experts will assess your property and employ additional strategies depending on the rental property's needs.