BiggerPockets

In my rental properties, I mainly concern with plumbing related issues and I normally don't buy the cheapest if it has to do with plumbing. Everything else, I used pretty much standard stuffs. Also, I used same interior paint color for all of them, saving me the headache when I have to repaint. (semi-gloss preferred for easy clean up)

depends on the income class...i do lower to median income tenants..no ceiling fans, no icemakers, no dishwashers, no garbage disposals, no carpet..anything that's not required by minimum housing code is something that they can braek and will expect you to fix...carpet will need to be changed between tenants...i paint my hardwood floors brown instad of sanding and staining bc most tenatns will put rugs down on them anyawys...i try to use commerical grade VCT tiles as mucha s possible.you can buff them and clean them up pretty easily...just think durability...you want stuff that will last and look decent in 5 years still...

We've always left appliances such as DW, washer/dryers, but informed them via the lease that extra appliances (not fridge/range) were their responsibility to maintain.

I was going to respond with a lengthy response until I read BryanA's post. So, I'll just say DITTO!

I spent the afternoon today trying to scrape the pad from a wood floor. The carpet was there and in good condition when I bought the place and I wasn't smart enough to just remove it then. The morons (renters) must have spilled 1,000 differents things on the carpet and the pad was welded to the floor. That is exactly why there should never be carpet (and certainly not carpet pad) in low-income rentals!!!

I have also started removing all interior doors from low-income rentals, thanks to our local Section 8 inspector, who let me know that interior doors weren't required for Section 8. My number one rule for Section 8 rentals - IF IT MOVES - REMOVE IT! Since interior doors are on hinges and move, OUT THEY GO!!! Therefore, I'll now apply the "if it moves rule" to interior doors, in addition to all the things BryanA listed!

Marc, you might want to check with your local Section 8 inspector before you take the doors off and throw them away. However, here in my area, if there are holes in the doors - they have to be patched. If there are no doors - everything is OK!

I like the painted floor idea and might try it in a middle income artistic area I have a few units in.

Here the low income guys just tile everything. This would save time between tenants by not having to repaint the floors.

always use cheaper materials. I would never renovate and then rent out, the renters will only devalue all that hard work!

i'm going to disagree with this...sometimes it's more expensive to set things up for a rental by doing it correclty...i can lay crappy linoleum in my apartment kitchens, but they'll just tear up in a few months and i'll have to do it again..it's actually more expensive to lay down quality commerical grade VCT tiles...i like my VCT, jeffrey likes his porcelain tiles..either way, it's actually moer expensive than crappy laminate, but will save you money in the long run since you don't want to constantly replace between tenants...the turnover of tenants and maintenence between them is what kills profits...keep the units durable, even if it costs a few extra bucks at the beginning

What about having no screen for a sliding glass door? Mine had a screen, but it was broken so someone from the bank threw it in the backyard. I'm tempted to just not replace it.

mike, i agree, tenants throw screens away all the time..unfortunately for me, screens and screen doors are required for minimum housing code in my area if you don't have central A/C...