Upgrading a rental house does not need to be financially wasteful or taxing. There are various inexpensive or free ways to enhance the appeal of a so-so rental property to prospective tenants. By adding just a few trouble-free touches, swapping out certain hardware or fixtures, and doing a little inexpensive resurfacing, you can make your single-family rental property one that quality tenants will be willing to rent. In truth, with just five effortless upgrades, you can unavoidably boost your Eastpointe property’s appeal.
Changing Hardware and Fixtures
Replacing small hardware items, such as doorknobs and light fixtures, is at the top of the list among small upgrades that can have a significant impact. Over time, hardware and light fixtures can tarnish or look dated. When this occurs, a rental home’s interior can have a negative impact on prospective renters. Updating old light fixtures in key rooms, installing a ceiling fan in a bedroom, or incorporating matching doorknobs, locks, and other hardware can create a visual appeal that far exceeds the costs. Hardware and light fixtures don’t need to be fancy or expensive; a simple fixture that looks clean and modern will regularly do the trick.
Touching Up the Paint
While repainting a rental home’s interior is one essential way to get that fresh, clean look tenants desire, it is possible to have a similar effect by doing small touch-ups. Contingent on the level of wear and tear, the full interior may not need a full paint job in-between every tenant. If that is the case in your rental property, painting an accent, the trim, or a few walls can offer the look of freshly painted walls without spending too much time or money.
Resurface the Countertops
The look of a rental home’s countertops can unavoidably impact the property’s overall appeal. Probably more than other features, a wonderful countertop can lend a kitchen or bathroom a custom look and an upgraded feel. Happily, installing granite or other expensive options is not necessary to secure this same result. There are various countertop resurfacing kits available that can provide your old countertops with an instant facelift without the designer price tag.
Don’t Forget the Details
Interior decorators take in that adding just a few small touches to a home can make a big difference. Eastpointe property managers can follow that example. Putting in new cabinet handles and drawer pulls to a bland kitchen can add beauty and function, swiftly upgrading otherwise tired old cabinets.
Updated and matching faceplates are important details that can enhance the cohesiveness of a home’s interior. Cracked or mismatched faceplates can negatively impact the overall feel and visual appeal of a room. By completely replacing each faceplate in your rental house with new, matching ones, you can significantly improve the beauty of each room.
Consider incorporating some tech-friendly features into your rental home that tenants will appreciate, all for a relatively low cost. For instance, you can replace standard outlets in key areas with outlets that have built-in USB ports. You might also transform a GFCI outlet into a charging hub. Other options include installing a video doorbell, smart light bulbs or plugs, and a Wi-Fi-enabled garage door. The money you invest in these updates will increase the value of your property and make it easier to attract quality tenants.
Landscape for Free
A rental home’s landscaping is a very important part of the property’s curb appeal and can even be one of the important reasons a tenant chooses your property over another. A clean, low-maintenance yard is ideal for rental homes, but tenants often appreciate the presence of trees, flowers, and other aesthetically pleasing elements. To add some low-cost color and green to your rental yard, go over your local utility or city website.
Many cities give away free trees or other plants to property owners. Still, always remember to check the “Free Stuff” section of your local classifieds. In these ads, people generally advertise items they no longer need – for instance, shrubs and trees – to anyone receptive to come and take them. That way, you can upgrade your property’s landscaping for no higher cost than a little elbow grease and a shovel.
Small upgrades can equal big returns in terms of standing out in the rental market. With just a little time and a small number of inexpensive purchases, you can upgrade your Eastpointe rental property and your ability to draw the kind of tenants you aspire to have.
Tired of doing it yourself? Why not give Real Property Management Metro Detroit a call? It doesn’t matter if you are the owner of one rental home or several; our goal is to protect and maximize your real estate investment. Backed by over 30 years of nationwide experience, our property managers are here to help rental homeowners multiply rental income while bringing down expenses and inefficiencies. Contact us online or call us at 248-808-6550 today.
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