You have an apartment in the Canary Islands that you want to put on the rental market, but you don’t know where to start. Do you need a complete renovation? New furniture? An interior decorator? The short answer is: probably not. But preparing an apartment properly — so it rents quickly, at a good price, and without issues — takes more work than it appears at first glance.

The fundamental principle: don’t over-decorate, don’t under-invest

The most common mistake is going to one of two extremes. Some owners spend thousands on renovations that the tenant won’t even notice. Others put the apartment on the market as-is — with 20-year-old furniture, yellowing walls, and dripping taps — and wonder why nobody calls. Both are typical mistakes property owners make that are easily avoided.

The sweet spot is making the improvements that tenants actually notice and are willing to pay more for. The challenge is knowing which improvements those are, coordinating the right professionals, and getting everything done within a reasonable timeframe without the budget spiralling out of control.

The 7 improvements with the highest return

1. Paint (cost: 300-600 for a 3-bedroom apartment)

This is the improvement with the greatest impact per euro invested. A freshly painted apartment in white or light neutral tones feels bigger, cleaner, and newer. Don’t use dark or bold colours — off-white or light beige always works.

If the apartment is small, go all white. If it’s spacious, you can paint one accent wall in a soft warm tone.

What they don’t tell you: finding an available painter at a fair price in the Canary Islands requires getting several quotes, coordinating dates, and being present (or having someone there) to supervise the result. If you live on the mainland or outside Spain, this gets complicated.

2. Professional cleaning (cost: 100-200)

Before showing the apartment to anyone, hire a professional deep clean. It’s not the same as cleaning it yourself with supermarket products. A cleaning company will tackle tile grout, windows inside and out, the extractor hood, limescale on taps, and corners that haven’t been touched in years.

A genuinely clean apartment rents faster and at a better price. No exceptions.

3. Lighting (cost: 50-150)

Replace all bulbs with warm-tone LEDs (2700-3000K). If there are outdated or broken light fixtures, swap them for simple, modern ones. Lighting completely changes how a space feels.

An extra tip: take your listing photos with all the lights on and the blinds open. Brightness sells. And don’t settle for mobile phone photos — a professional shoot (or at least one with good natural light and wide angles) makes the difference between 10 viewings and 100.

4. Taps and small repairs (cost: 100-300)

A dripping tap, a socket that doesn’t work, a door that sticks, a broken handle. These are small details that convey neglect. Before listing, do a walk-through of the apartment with a checklist:

Do all taps work without dripping?
Do all blinds go up and down smoothly?
Do all sockets and switches work?
Do the doors open and close properly?
Does the toilet flush correctly?
Do all appliances work?

Each of these repairs is cheap, but this is where many owners get stuck. Coordinating a plumber, an electrician, and a handyman in the same week is a small logistical feat. And if the apartment has been closed up for a while, the repair list tends to grow the more you inspect.

5. Functional kitchen (cost: 0-500)

You don’t need a designer kitchen. You need everything to work and be clean. If the worktop is in bad shape, a specialist worktop paint can refresh it for under 100. If the cabinets are fine but the doors look tired, simply replacing the handles with modern ones costs 30-50 and transforms the look.

If you’re renting furnished, make sure you have: a fridge, a hob, an oven or microwave, and basic kitchen essentials (frying pan, saucepan, plates, glasses, cutlery).

6. Presentable bathroom (cost: 50-200)

The bathroom is where the passage of time shows most. You don’t need a full refit, but you do need to:

Replace the shower curtain or screen if it’s yellowed
Replace the toilet seat if it’s stained
Apply fresh silicone to joints if they’ve gone black
Ensure there’s a clean mirror in good condition
Put in a matching set of accessories (soap dish, toilet roll holder, towel rail)

7. Basic furniture if renting furnished (cost: 500-1,500)

If you’re renting furnished (essential if you’re targeting medium-stay tenants or room-by-room rental), you don’t need expensive furniture. You need furniture that’s functional, clean, and in good condition.

Per bedroom: a bed with a new mattress, a bedside table, a wardrobe or open storage, and a desk and chair if you’re targeting professionals.

IKEA or similar stores offer complete packages at reasonable prices. Avoid second-hand furniture that looks worn — it conveys neglect even if it works perfectly. That said, buying, transporting, and assembling furniture for an entire apartment easily eats up a full weekend (or more).

What you DON’T need to do

Full bathroom or kitchen renovation (unless they’re genuinely wrecked)
New flooring (unless it’s cracked or lifting — if it’s ugly but functional, a good clean and some strategically placed rugs will do)
Elaborate decoration (artwork, cushions, artificial plants — this is a rental apartment, not a magazine editorial)
Smart home tech or advanced gadgets (a good WiFi router, yes; motorised blinds, no)

Total indicative investment

For a 3-bedroom apartment in “normal” condition (not wrecked, but not new either):

Item	Cost	Your time
Full repaint	400	Finding a painter, getting quotes, supervising
Professional cleaning	150	Coordinating with the company
LED lighting	80	Buying and replacing (or hiring an electrician)
Small repairs	200	Plumber + electrician + handyman
Kitchen/bathroom touch-ups	150	Buying materials, applying or supervising
Total	~980	2-4 weeks of coordination

If you need to furnish it: add 1,000-1,500 and another weekend of shopping and assembly.

In monetary terms, preparing the apartment is affordable — and with these improvements you can significantly increase how much you can earn renting your apartment in the Canary Islands. In time, effort, and coordinating professionals, that’s where many owners get stuck — especially if they don’t live on the island.

And then comes the part nobody talks about: the management

Preparing the apartment is just step one. After that, the real work begins:

Posting listings with professional photos and copy that converts, on the right portals
Screening tenants — checking payslips, references, and knowing how to tell a good profile from one that’s going to cause problems
Contracts — drafting them properly, with clauses that protect you and that comply with Canary Islands regulations
Issues — the washing machine breaks down at 11 p.m., there’s a leak, the neighbour complains about noise
Payments and arrears — following up, chasing, knowing when to escalate
Ongoing maintenance — boiler inspections, common area cleaning if renting by the room, replacing worn-out furniture

All of this repeats month after month, with every tenant change, and requires being available or having someone who is. It’s a job, not passive income.

The alternative: let someone handle everything

At Looping Rooms, we take care of the entire process. Not just preparing the apartment — anyone with a checklist and some free time can do that. What sets us apart is what comes after:

We take on the setup, including improvements, furnishing, and all necessary equipment. At no cost to you.
We guarantee a fixed monthly rent, regardless of whether the apartment is occupied or empty. You get paid every month.
We manage everything — tenants, issues, maintenance, payments. You won’t get a call at 11 p.m.
We return the apartment in the same condition at the end of the contract.

The owner who prepares their apartment, posts the listing, screens tenants, handles issues, and chases payments dedicates between 5 and 15 hours a month to their “passive income.” And they bear the risk of non-payment, gaps between tenants, and property damage.

With our rent-to-rent model, you invest 0 in preparation, dedicate 0 hours per month, and collect a fixed rent. The difference isn’t the cost of the paint — it’s your time and your peace of mind.

Request a free valuation and find out how much your apartment could earn without you having to lift a finger.

How to Prepare Your Apartment for Rental in the Canary Islands (Without Spending a Fortune)