Does the size of the kitchen matter in a rental?

Question

Hello,

I just read an interesting article that stated that fewer people like to cook at home.  It went on to say that kitchens in the future will be smaller.  Does the size of the kitchen make any real difference in finding tenants?  If so, do they prefer small kitchens or larger ones? What should I look for when buying a property for a rental... as far as the kitchen size?  Thanks in advance.

Jonathan W. · Answer

@Estelle Angelinas this might sound silly but some people, whether they want a big or small kitchen, can be very picky about where the sink is and what it faces. But imo as long as the microwave oven over the stove isn’t low or just in general as long as your cabinets aren’t too low and awkward, it’s not a big deal. I mean unless your renting out to the house wives of Bel-Air. Many Older people don’t mind smaller kitchens and millennials care more about local places to eat and space for their pets so :0

Don’t overthink it imo

Karl B. · Answer

My experience has been people are less concerned with kitchen size and are much more interested in the storage situation in the kitchen (heck, it matters in general): are there enough cabinets for their food and cooking-related items?

Pretty much every property I have (multi-family) lacks enough storage. And so I buy drawer/cabinets from Habitat for Humanity Restore/Construction Junction/etc; sometimes I need to nail a laminate countertop to it if it lacks the top but they often have the countertop still on there - buying them used is naturally way cheaper.

If I dealt in SFH I'm sure more potential renters would be concerned with kitchen-size (I deal 100% in multi-family properties) but there's no doubt storage space is coveted in SFH as well.

Mike McCarthy · Answer

Many of my tenants don't cook (or at least don't seem to cook often).  So kitchen size doesn't really seem to matter much.  Families with kids tend to cook more often, so it seems to be more important to them.

But like most things, it's the whole package.  A nice looking small kitchen gets more points (and higher rent) than a larger dirty/aging kitchen.

Lee Bell · Answer

I think it depends on the property and sub market. If you have a 3000 SF house for rent, it better not have a small dark kitchen. It better have a bitchen kitchen.

Michael Noto · Answer

If you are talking about apartments that are bigger than an efficiency or a studio, I think tenants expect a kitchen big enough to fit normal size appliances and adequate cabinet space.

Frank Geiger · Answer

I would say storage and functionality are both really important. No tenant wants the dishwasher to pin them up against the sink or stove to open up too close to an island. We may overlook some of these things since investors don't always live in their properties.

John Underwood · Answer

I have properties with small kitchens. No one has ever complained.

Account Closed · Answer

Thanks again,

Didn't expect to create such a big thread.  Sometimes I see a nice property with maybe a kitchen that could be updated. Maybe new cabinets, kitchen appliances,etc.  Or even some that have been remodelled and needs these put in.  They are reasonably priced, and I don't think new appliances and cabinets are that expensive.  Don't want to miss out on a good deal because of this.

Account Closed · Answer

Thanks,

So I gather that size doesn't matter much.  The SFH's that we are looking into have small kitchens or kitchenettes.  The main characteristic is that they have lots of cupboards and counter space. They all are newly renovated-at least that's what the description and photos show.   Using my own grown children (who say they cook) as an example... the foods they do cook aren't like what older generations did.  Not that they don't know how to cook, but they don't have the time.

I suppose location is also important... if they're in a large city with lots of affordable places to eat, or to take away, why bother.   This also holds true to older people who are downsizing.  These are the markets we're aiming at-  young couples starting out or retired people downsizing.   Our agent suggests 2-3 bdrm/ 1.5 bath.  The city we chose has many nice homes available.

Chris C. · Answer

@Estelle Angelinas

Size doesn't matter

Does the size of the kitchen matter in a rental?

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