In this article
Before listing any unit for rent, complete 12 items: a safety check, electrics, plumbing, air conditioning, paint, bathrooms, kitchens, floors, doors and locks, corridor and entrance lighting, deep cleaning, then partial furnishing where needed. Preparing before listing noticeably shortens vacancy and raises the price tenants will accept.
Why prepare before operating, not after?
The most common mistake: showing the unit "as is" and promising the tenant repairs after signing. In practice the result is many viewings with no outcome, haggling over the price, and a tenant who starts the relationship with a list of demands.
A ready unit lets faster and at a higher price, because tenants decide visually within two minutes of walking in. And the first impression starts at the entrance and corridor, before they even reach the apartment door.
Structure and safety items
- Safety check — fire extinguishers, emergency exits, emergency lighting, safe stairs and handrails.
- Treating damp and leaks — any damp patch will grow into a bigger problem and lose you tenants.
- Doors and locks — sound locks for every unit, and a new cylinder after every tenant.
Electrics, plumbing and air conditioning
- Electrical panel and wiring — working breakers, enough sockets, no exposed wires.
- Plumbing — acceptable water pressure, no drips, proper drainage.
- Air conditioners — cleaning, refrigerant top-up and a test run for every unit. A weak AC in Riyadh is a direct reason a unit doesn't let.
Paint, entrances and corridors
- Full repaint — a light, neutral colour. Paint is the cheapest item with the biggest visual impact.
- Entrance and corridors — bright lighting, cleanliness, no visible wires, clear unit number signs.
Bathrooms and kitchens
- Bathrooms — modern taps and toilets, clean silicone, mirrors, ventilation. This item alone changes how a unit feels.
- Kitchen — sound cabinets, sink and drain, a gas or electric point, a clean worktop.
- Floors — replace broken tiles and deep-clean the grout.
Partial furnishing: when is it worth it?
- Partial furnishing — a bed, a wardrobe, an air conditioner and perhaps a table.
Partial furnishing pays off when demand in the district comes from single people, bachelors and people relocating for work, and when the unit is a studio or a one-bedroom with living room. Large family apartments usually let unfurnished.
Estimated cost and return
A practical estimate for preparing a studio in Riyadh (approximate figures that change with the market):
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Full repaint | SAR 800 – 1,500 |
| Electrical and plumbing maintenance | SAR 500 – 1,200 |
| AC service and cleaning | SAR 150 – 350 |
| Bathroom upgrade | SAR 700 – 2,000 |
| Deep cleaning | SAR 200 – 400 |
| Partial furnishing (optional) | SAR 2,500 – 5,000 |
In return: vacancy drops from two months to two weeks, and rent can rise by SAR 150–400 a month. In other words, the cost is usually recovered within a year or less.
Under the all-inclusive operating model, this cost is carried by the operator, not the owner — one of the main reasons owners choose this model.
Own a property and want an honest opinion?
The Nazeel team will inspect your property and give you a realistic view of how it can be operated and the income to expect — with no obligation.
