How do you guy rehab your rentals?

[Ali Chauhan]

So I’ve this question for a very long time. How do you guys rehab your rentals. Is it just the small little things or do you try to make them all amazing. Appreciate the comments thank you. 

[Jill F.]

We buy value-add and reno at first or second turn-over depending on timing and condition. We go for "amazing for the money." We are skilled, we do a substantial amount of diy, and we are bargain shoppers, but we don't buy super high-end product. We buy used or stock unfinished cabinets and refinish with a kit. My husband builds custom countertops and finishes with an epoxy kit. We install modern lighting almost all bought online, spending $500-$600 per unit (for example we often buy 3 light acrylic "crystal" vanity lights for less than $10 that are *super* popular.) We always do backsplashes; we use 20ft of $3/foot field tile, and 10ft of $5-$13 "bling" tile and generally come in at $300-$500.  We keep our 4 piece (stainless) appliance sets at under $2000 and often come in under $1500 with sales, scratch and dents, or a deal on a used stove or fridge. We only sub out, new garage door installs, and HVAC installs & repairs, electrician if we have to touch the box, and plumbers for gas line moves. We also know a super great carpenter that we hire when my husband is really backed up. We've completely reno'd 24 of our 59 units with 4 more currently under renovation expected to be completed before the end of summer. Here's a before and after of the last one we finished which I was really proud of.

Before: