What Interior To Use For Rental Properties?

Question

Hello!

My name is Christopher Powers and I'm looking to get into REI and am looking to start with a multifamily property and I would live in one of the units. I'm wondering what kind of color schemes you guys use for the interiors of your rental properties. I have an idea of kitchen schemes and such and I try to use hgtv and hgtv.com to get some ideas but I'm wondering what colors or hardware you guys, particularly those in the NE, use in their houses or units. I'm based in Albany NY and am not sure what to look at or where to turn so any help is greatly appreciated!

Chris

Steven E. · Answer

Oh one more suggestion. open a commercial account at lowes or home depot and as long as your rehab work goes over $2000 in materials send the whole list to the bid room it will save you abut 10-20% last month we had a major rehab job to three 1100sf apartments from ceilings to floors over in total about $35k in materials the home depot bid room came back with almost 25% off we saved like $7500

Steven E. · Answer

Hi Chris,

I just a dded a few props to my portfolio one was a fourplex we did to that (which needed a total rehab) just like rob is saying we had our boys go in (my contractor we call the boys) neutral colors walls white ceiling , trims and even the doors I put in Allure cherry plank on the floors and in the kitchen home depot has a nice Formica brown ($165 long piece $89 for the short right angle) we paint the old cabs white and put real nice handles and draw pulls tile the kitchen floor or Allure also makes tile looking planks and looks great I have 40 units like this in one of my complexes and we get $800 a month. lots of people say no put carpet in you will end up changing the carpet 6-8 times in 10 years I spend a little more than carpet and it looks new for 7-9 years and everyone walks in and says " wow comes with cherry wood floors " lol they come out great and as a landlord of 140 units in apartments it has been a life saver.

Rob Beland · Answer

keep it neutral paint colors with bright white trim and baseboards. Very clean and bright.

Account Closed · Answer

The owner I worked for bought Kelly-Moore "bone" paint by the truckload.  He then just had to run a roller half way up the walls to freshen up a unit, normally (unless they were smoking in there against rules).  Just made it easy.  For trim, he used white.

As a tenant, I really prefer neutral colors, and I honestly don't like the accent walls.  Unless I would get to pick out the color, as was mentioned above.  Plus, you just create more work for yourself, and tenants won't care or expect it, in my opinion.  They may ask you if they can paint the unit a different color and that's up to you.  It's generally not a good idea, because they won't do it right, usually, and you'll just have to completely repaint after they move out.  Some will paint the place without permission, too,

Christopher Powers · Answer

Thank you all! I've written down all your suggestions and will find which ones work best for me in my area.

Johann Jells · Answer

I disagree on bright white trim, I think it gets dingier looking than a slightly off white. I've settled on HD "swiss coffee" for trim and Ben Moore "Navajo White" (really a pale neutral yellow) for walls.

Kerry Baird · Answer

There is a good thread on how to "harden" your rentals that you can search for, as well.

Jonna Weber · Answer

I am not in your part of the country, but satin nickel is a safe bet for hardware in our area.

Elizabeth Colegrove · Answer

Don't do neutral "white". Do neutral brown or another color. Also don't don't do flat. While it goes on easier it doesn't last as well.

What Interior To Use For Rental Properties?

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