Now that spring is here – is it time for rental property maintenance and upgrade? The best investments that you can make for your rental property are the ones that will keep it occupied for more than just one lease term. Some property owners and property management companies offer amenities like fitness centers or swimming pools to attract tenants. But what are some upgrades that could lead to vacancies? Let’s take a look at the five rental property upgrades that property owners should avoid.

Five Rental Property Upgrades That Don’t Pay Off

While these upgrades could be the right choice for your own home, our Apogee property management experts know these could discourage potential renters from showing an interest in your rental property.

1. Elaborate Landscaping

For most residential rental properties, taking care of the yard is a tenant’s responsibility. So the question is – can your future tenant maintain the yard and the landscape? Having a well-maintained landscape indicates that the homeowner takes care of the property well, but having elaborate landscaping can deter potential tenants as they will be burdened with taking care of the plants and maintaining the whole yard.

2. Bright or Trendy Paint Colors

Adding a fresh coat of paint is a classic way to make every home look good. It’s low-cost and not time-intensive, but it can freshen up any wall and can make a big difference. Repainting a home with the brightest or latest color of the year can make your rental property less appealing. Apogee property managers recommend going for neutral tones so future tenants can picture their own stuff or bring in their own color to your property.

3. High-End Light Fixtures and Countertops

There’s nothing wrong with expensive light features and countertops as these look great in property listings for homes for sale. However, some high-end features like chandeliers and marble counters don’t often translate well to what renters want in a rental home as this could mean a higher rental rate or energy consumption. These luxury features look great, but the maintenance or the upkeep can be unrealistic.

4. Putting up Wallpaper

Wallpaper adds personality to a room, but not everyone will love the embossed victorian style on their bedroom walls. There is also a big possibility that it will class with the room or the tenant’s furniture. And if you’re unlucky, humidity can damage the wallpaper and it can be hard to replace as some wallpapers are not easy to remove. A fresh coat of neutral paint goes a long way.

4. Installing Wall to Wall Carpet

We have many options when it comes to the flooring of a home – wood, tile, concrete, and carpet. Installing wall-to-wall carpet actually costs less than most flooring types and this makes it a good choice for homes with young children or elderly adults. But carpets are the biggest air filter in your home as they absorb moisture and odors; and they will become a breeding ground for mold if it’s not regularly cleaned up, as well as fleas or bloodsucking insects if you allow pets in your rental property. So the tradeoff is the time-consuming process of cleaning and maintaining, which most tenants may not have the time to do so.

Make Profitable Upgrades With Apogee Properties

Home upgrades come in all shapes and sizes, but not all are worth it. We hope that this short guide will help you decide which upgrades to make. But if you’re unsure what to do with your rental property so it can attract your target tenants, Apogee Properties can help you invest wisely and make profitable upgrades. Whether you own a residential property or commercial rental property, Apogee Properties can help you manage and choose the best upgrade for your investment property.

Upgrading your rental property to make it more marketable and attract your target tenants doesn’t always require a significant investment. You have plenty of options to update your rental property. While some rental property upgrades pay off, there are the worst upgrades for rental properties. Reach out today for insights into the best upgrades that can maximize your returns!

Work with Apogee Properties

Apogee Properties is Houston’s Premier Property Management Company. We work and live in Houston and our property managers are local. We’ve been in business for more than a decade providing comprehensive property management services in the Houston region ranging from a studio condo to a multi-family million dollar estate. Contact us to learn more about our property management services, and what we can do for you and your rental property.

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