Tips to make renting out your house easier

The numbers at the bottom line were quite clear against me. It shouted: are you going to rent out your house if you go to Greece. For the gifted Airbnb’er maybe a little something, for me and my first house a BIG DEAL. Because: it's my first house, a place in the sun and more of that sentimental nonsense.

Why would you rent out? To be able to be away longer, to have more to spend while traveling, but also so that your house is occupied during the time you are not there. If you find a nice tenant, it gives a calm feeling. Of course, it's also an option to save extra and go, but if you are thinking about renting out, then I have tips.

1. First, make a call among family, friends, or acquaintances. Often there are people in between houses who are looking for something temporary or fleeing their house during a renovation. You might not rake in the big bucks from renting, but you leave with more peace of mind. Of course, Airbnb is also an option, because you can rent out your own home for 60 days a year (that is indeed the condition). That's already quickly two months. An additional advantage of Airbnb: you are well protected by the terms, although you do pay service fees for that.

2. Rent a storage unit nearby. For about fifty euros a month, you already have a few insured square meters for your precious belongings. This is where I store my thick sweaters, shoes, folders with administration, and photo frames just around the corner. Or look at your grandpa/grandma with a big shed lovingly to store something. I personally find it ideal that I can just empty the storage at my own pace when I'm home, without anyone asking if I could please pick up that mess from the attic.

3. Arrange a reliable point of contact for yourself and your tenants. I have friends empty my mailbox outside once a week, then I immediately know if my house is still standing. I also find it a nice idea that not everyone can snoop through my mail, even though I have very little to hide. Tip: PostNL also has a forwarding service that temporarily delivers your mail somewhere else.

4. Make a clear list of everything your tenant needs to know. Where is the fifteen euros for the window cleaner  that comes every month? On which day should which garbage container be put out? Who should they call if the washing machine stops working? How on earth does the universal remote control work? That kind of stuff.

5. A tip I picked up from Jet and that I am finally going to apply myself: hire a cleaner before you return to your own house. No matter how terribly your guests have treated the place, your house is just your house again. You might miss some dishes that didn't survive the adventure, but hopefully, there's nothing else to see.