Make the property attractive to renters.
Go for neutral tones and keep the kitchen and bathroom in good condition. You’ll find that you will attract better quality tenants if you have a well presented property and the last thing you want is a bad tenant.
Think about differentiating between your own home and your investment to avoid becoming overly involved; remember it is the home of your tenant and not your own.
It is important to remember the day will come when you’ll want to sell the property and if a home is appealing to not only property investors but also owner occupiers you’ll have a wider market for the property and this will maximise your selling price. I think that owner occupiers are willing to pay a little more for the right property because it becomes a more emotional rather than a logical purchase.