Prospective tenant has asked me to do some upgrades. What to do?

Question

They’d like different faucets. A different color paint on the bedrooms. Different kitchen fixtures.

What would you do?  This is a pretty premium high dollar property.

They’ve suggested they would be willing to chip in some. We haven’t talked $$$ yet.

I replaced the faucets about a year ago so they said they’d pay for that.

Painting I would probably do myself. What would it cost in paint to paint 3 bedrooms?  I’ve not done that before.

How much time should I expect it to take me?

Sandy Gabin · Answer

I wouldn't do anything either.  We landlords can't be satisfying every prospect tenants needs or desires.  What we need is  passive income to come into our pockets every month. So let's say that you go along and fix and upgrade those things, what if 3 months later they ask you to do more upgrades so they can be comfortable and all your money is being consumed into the unit, what will happen? A negative. We are here to do business.

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

@Steve S. If I were to go along-and most likely not. I would offer to hire the trades and bill them the whole amount. Parts and labor. And only after they signed a lease and paid deposits and advance rent. I would not do any work myself nor would I allow them to. Would not take long; two days.

Mike McCarthy · Answer

This seems odd to me. They are renting the house, not buying - so I dont know why they’d want to replace perfectly good fixtures.

I had a family move in a few years ago and they knew there were going to stay a while. They asked to install a wall-mount TV, and a gate on the patio so the kid could go out and be contained. I agreed (they paid) because I can see those as good upgrades that they ‘need’.

On the other hand, I have had a prospective tenant notice a closet door was broken, and asked for it to be fixed, replaced. Sure... they shouldn’t have to move in to a broken door.

But the idea of changing things just because they want something different doesn’t seem right.

Stephen J Davis · Answer

These people are going to be a problem later on. Way too picky. I would only do it if they pay the full amount. Do not do it yourself. Collect first months rent, security deposit and total cost of upgrades before you do anything.

Account Closed · Answer

Absolutely say no to any changes.  I learned the hard way that any applicant who starts asking for changes before they are even approved will ALWAYS be a major, major pain in your rear until the day you get down on your knees and thank the universe that they are finally out of your life.

In fact, if you just put in your written tenant screening criteria that you reject anyone who asks for changes or upgrades, then you can deny them just on that - as long as you are consistent about that with all applicants.  People who want changes to an apartment are not a protected class.

But, I will tell you from many years and hundreds of applicants -- if you bow to their whim today, it will not end.  Weird requests you could never fathom will start coming your way and it won't be the end of it.

As an example, we rented to someone who asked if we could change the walk-in closet and something else I'm forgetting.  I told the owner we should reject her, he said he wanted her - fine.  (I was a resident manager of a multi unit 26 units.)

They always, always will expect you to then do whatever they want - they will bug you for washer dryer in their unit, they will complain that the hallway floors aren't clean enough, on and on.

David Avetisyan · Answer

If they are asking for all these upgrades before they’ve paid you a penny, I would love to know what they would want in exchange after a month or two of paying your mortgage.

Sounds like a bad tenant story waiting to happen!

To your success!

Michael Peters · Answer

Make sure your still marketing and showing this property even if you do move forward with some of there requests.  Don't start any work until the lease is signed, deposit, and all update costs are paid for by the tenant.  This could be a good way to get some paid improvements on the home if its reasonable.

I personally wouldn't rent to them as any high maintenance requests prior to someone moving in means more will follow.  I can get if you have a lime green bathroom and they make the request but not if they just don't like the neutral grey or beige color of your walls.  The fixture request seems kind of over the top.

Theresa Harris · Answer

@Steve S.  Painting is pretty easy, but I would make sure you get a signed lease with a non-refundable deposit before undertaking any work.  Unless the house needs to be painted, then they should cover the cost of painting.  Get a quote.  With the faucets, make sure they are installed by a professional and put it in writing that they stay with the house and you need to pre-approve them (in case they are horrible).

Prospective tenant has asked me to do some upgrades. What to do?

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