Upgrades to Increase Rent

Here are some upgrades I use to enable me to raise rents easier.

Upgrade #1 - Replace or Refinish Cabinet Doors

This is an important upgrade that every landlord should make, sooner rather than later, because, if cabinet doors are left untouched for years, they can really date a rental property and make it look a lot older than it actually is.

If it's not in your budget to replace the cabinet doors at your rental, you can still breathe new life into your rental by refinishing them.

Upgrade #2 - Replace or Refinish Doors

Another important upgrade that you should make at your rental property is to either replace or refinish Interior and exterior doors.

Completing this upgrade is important because, as with cabinet doors, older interior or exterior doors can really age a rental property and paint the wrong “mental picture” in the mind of a potential renter.

The great thing about replacing doors is that in today's world most new doors cost a lot less than you think so this project can be completed on any budget but if you don't want to replace the doors, all you have to do is grab a few cans of paint and spend the afternoon repainting them.

Upgrade #3 - Pressure Wash Your Rental Property

By default, you should be pressure washing your rental property at least once a year because thanks to the snow and rain that we receive in Washington State it's very easy for most rental properties to have dirt and grime built up on the outside of their walls.

You can easily remove that dirt and grime yourself by renting a pressure washer locally from a store Like Home Depot.

Upgrade #4 - Install Hardwood Flooring

Most tenants love hardwood flooring because it’s easy to maintain and clean up messes. If your rental property doesn't have any hardwood floors, you should consider adding them or wood laminate flooring to the main living areas. But, it is a good idea to keep carpeting in the bedrooms because the average person likes to wake up in the morning with their feet hitting the carpet first instead of a hardwood floor.

Upgrade #5 - Add A Backsplash to The Kitchen

Yes, it's true that most rental properties have small kitchens, especially if it's an apartment or condo, thankfully though you can make any kitchen look classy simply by adding a backsplash.

The key to success with adding a backsplash is to avoid anything that's currently trendy like trendy tiles or colors. Instead, you should choose a classic or timeless color like subway tile because regardless of how the styles change there are always certain styles that remain in demand.

Upgrade #6 - Install A Washer and Dryer

Most tenants easily spend up to $100 per month getting their laundry done at a local laundry mat so if you really want to endear yourself to your tenants you should consider installing a washer and dryer at your rental property.

Thankfully, washer and dryers are very inexpensive to buy. You can find them on websites like Craigslist for as low as $400 for the pair, or you can purchase them new online from websites like Amazon and Home Depot for as little as $800 for the pair.

Upgrade #7 - Install A NEST Thermostat

Last of all, the most important, the last upgrade that you should consider adding to your rental property is a NEST thermostat.

These thermostats are wonderful because they will help your tenant to reduce their energy cost because the NEST Thermostat will regulate the temperature in your rental so that it will always be set at the correct temperature.

Besides installing the NEST thermostat in your rental property some of the other technology upgrades you should consider adding include: smart door locks, smart outlets with USB ports, and smart smoke detectors.