How much to Rehab Buy and Hold Rental

How much to Rehab Buy and Hold Rental

Real Estate Broker & Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2012 · 218 posts · 83 votes

So I have an accepted offer on what will be my third rental property. But this is the first I've purchased with the explicit plan to keep as a rental.

Background: The first rental was purchased back in 2006 and was intended to be a flip. Completed the rehab with that in mind, couldn't sell it, and converted it to a rental. It's been a solid rental over these last 7 years. 3 tenants over that time, and the most recent has been there 4+ years and I don't expect them to move anytime.

2nd rental was my own home that I kept as a rental. I did updates/rehabs on that home for myself, and have had the same renter there for 3 years now, and they also want to stay long-term.

This 3rd property is not far from the first one, it's an REO but really is in very solid condition and just needs some cosmetic work. My biggest question is how much do BPs members rehab their long term rentals? Obviously I plan to do some plaster repairs and paint the entire interior. The appliances are ancient and I'll replace those. Also do some updating in the bathroom.


The biggest questions for me is what how far to go in the 1) Kitchen and 2) refinishing the hardwood floors. Neither are what I would consider poor, I'd rate both average. The kitchen cabinets aren't laid out very great and they are dated, but they are solid wood, painted white, and certainly not a total eyesore. The sink and countertops are totally functional, just a bit dated and some loud/odd color (purple) for the countertops.

The hardwoods don't have any damage, but have a decent amount of wear. I refinished them in my 1st rental and they came out nice, but again that was when planning to flip. Not sure if it's really worth it or not.

On the other side, I love the good quality long-term tenants I've managed in my other 2 properties. They treat the homes like their own and even do their own updates and improvements (landscaping, painting, etc...) I'd love to land the same mentality tenant this time around, so maybe it's worth sinking a few extra $k's now?

Thoughts?

0Reply
58 views

Most Popular Reply

Investor · -, IL · Member since 2010 · 409 posts · 616 votes
12y

For the cabinets I would just do another quick coat of white paint and switch out the counter tops and hardware. That would be cheap, easy and make the kitchen look better.

I usually sand the hardwood floors and throw 3 coats of poly on. Again cheap and easy.

See this reply in the discussion

14 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Investor · Peachtree Corners, GA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    it really is market dependent. I keep mine to a higher standard than most but I like to provide higher quality places with the thought that the tenants will keep them nicer. Sometimes I wonder though and sometimes my aact really wonders too!

  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y

    I aim to keep my rentals a little bit better than everything else in the market. But not overly rehabbed as the extra dollars won't make me extra dollars.

  • Investor · -, IL · Member since 2010 · 409 posts · 616 votes
    12y

    For the cabinets I would just do another quick coat of white paint and switch out the counter tops and hardware. That would be cheap, easy and make the kitchen look better.

    I usually sand the hardwood floors and throw 3 coats of poly on. Again cheap and easy.

  • Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    I spend way too much on rehab. . Way too much

  • Mike D'ArrigoPro Member
    Turn key provider · San Jose, CA · Member since 2010 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    12y

    @Rusty Scott As others have said, it is very market and neighborhood specific and what tenants expect. What you do in Dallas might not be what you do in Indianapolis. And what you do in one neighborhood of Dallas or Indianapolis isn't what you do in another. You might want to talk to your property manager and get their advice. It sounds like the cabinets are fine. I don't think I would do anything with them with the exception of maybe a coat of paint. The counter tops sound pretty outdated and ugly. You might want to change them. I believe in making rentals nice and attractive to potential tenants but you never want to do a retail rehab on them.

  • Denver, CO · Member since 2013 · 185 posts · 160 votes
    12y

    @Rusty Scott I think inexpensive and easy is the way to go but do a good evaluation of things that could be a problem in the future. If there are hard wood floors put extra coats of polyurethane so floors are extra protected. I love tile, I could put it on every surface cause it protects better than anything else. Just evaluate what aspects of the house that are susceptible to wear and tear and then over-engineer to make them stronger.

  • Rental Property Investor · Brookline, MA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 777 votes
    12y

    @Rusty Scott

    I agree with "market conditions" analysis from above. Fresh paint is probably the single best renovation item you can do :)

    2 tips:

    Learn to tile. @Kevin Fletcher makes an excellent point about protecting with tile. Plus it will save you a fortune in labor.

    Buy extra tile and hardwood flooring and store it someplace dry. Occasionally you'll need to replace pieces so having an extra box or two on hand makes life easier.

  • Ben G.Pro Member
    Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2013 · 647 posts · 196 votes
    12y

    Welcome to BP. I agree with what @Dawn Anastasi says. You really want to be the best in the neighborhood, especially in a market like Indianapolis where the inventory of homes for rent is so high and affordable.

  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Aaron Montague:
    Fresh paint is probably the single best renovation item you can do Learn to tile.

    I agree on the paint 100%.

    I did learn to tile and did not like it.

  • Rental Property Investor · Brookline, MA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 777 votes
    12y

    @Dawn Anastasi

    There is something robotic and therapeutic about tiling for me. I think it might be the repeated pattern or something like that.

    Tile zone out?

  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Aaron Montague:
    There is something robotic and therapeutic about tiling for me. I think it might be the repeated pattern or something like that.

    Tile zone out?

    For me, I didn't like to get messy with the mortar and grout.

  • Investor · -, IL · Member since 2010 · 409 posts · 616 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Aaron Montague:
    @Dawn Anastasi
    There is something robotic and therapeutic about tiling for me. I think it might be the repeated pattern or something like that.

    Tile zone out?

    Whenever I am tiling I always have the Umpa Lumpa song from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory going through my head.

  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 557 votes
    12y

    Welcome @Rusty Scott !

    It's always good to see another Hoosier on BP.

    It sounds like the home is older [Pre- 1945]?

    I always want to try to eliminate as many service calls as possible for a long term hold. I replace the HVAC if more than 10 years old and the water heater if more than 5 years old [since we typically have very hard water in Indiana]. If shopped correctly, these items are not too expensive. [I pay about $2500 installed for a new gas furnace and central AC. About $500 for a new water heater.

    I always upgrade the plumbing to PEX if possible as well. When it comes to flooring, I do hard surfaces everywhere except the bedrooms. It sounds like the hardwood is an easy update project. If it's a lower end rental, I would suggest a good quality vinyl flooring in the Kitchen & Baths. Otherwise, I [pay] to have tile installed.

    If there is a basement and it has a sump pump, I always be sure the pump is in good working order and has a battery back up.

    I've found that Menards has the best prices on counter tops by far since they own their own wood shop.

    Everything else, I just be sure it's safe and clean. Like @George P. mentioned, I've went way overboard in the past only to not be appreciated by the tenants.

    I hope that helps.

  • Investor · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2013 · 658 posts · 315 votes
    12y

    Get on craigslist and see what level of finish your competition is using.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.