For your Bellaire rental property, it is cost-effective to design interiors that will last for a long time. Trends are attractive in the short term but keeping your rental house on trend will require costly renovations. Instead, your rental properties will be more profitable if they have a wide appeal that lasts well into the future. Here are some ideas to keep your rental not only relevant but ready for what comes next to future-proof your rental home.
Choose Classic Over Trendy
You might want to attract today’s renters by incorporating the latest fad into your rental home’s interiors & exteriors. But to create a timeless look that will last, it’s a much better idea to stick to a simple, classic design. The classic design has a signature simple, sophisticated style that is functional and highly adaptable. Neutral colors and natural materials like wood, stone, and brick make a very classic look. Compared to loud, trendy designs, classic design is timeless and will complement a variety of aesthetics. This design outlasts short-lived design fads. This is one of the ways you can start future-proofing your rental property.
Keep Walls & Floors Neutral
Trendy colors come and go almost as quickly as most other fads. You might be tempted to add that accent wall or repaint your entire house the color of the year, but before you do, consider how often you have to repaint to keep your rental property from looking dated. Give your rental home that timeless appeal by using paint and flooring in neutral shades. Neutrals are the backdrop that makes it flexible for the renter to customize their space even when living in a rental house. The use of soft beiges, grays, and crisp white trim can accentuate a room while still allowing the resident to make it feel like home.
Invest in Good Lighting
Another way of future-proofing your rental property is by investing in quality lighting fixtures and bulbs. For many landlords, lighting in their rental homes is an afterthought. They sometimes use the cheapest light fixtures and bulbs thinking it will save them a few dollars. In the short-term, it may seem to have worked but investing in good lighting actually helps you save on utility costs and even increase interest in your rental house making it easier to rent and encouraging renters to stay for a long period of time. This is because few renters want a home that has dark or inadequately lit rooms. If your rental has old, outdated light fixtures, it is time to replace them with fixtures that provide enough light. Tacky fluorescent lighting can be replaced with functional and versatile recessed lighting. At the very least, switch out those cheap light bulbs for quality LED bulbs. By itself, this will increase energy efficiency and reduce how often you need to change light bulbs in a year.
Add Smart Upgrades
Finally, you might want to consider installing smart technologies. Ready your rental property for a future where these technologies will be in demand by adding smart upgrades early on. Install a smart thermostat to help reduce utility costs while appealing to renters who, like most people, appreciate that they can control the features from a smartphone or tablet. And smart locks are budget-friendly upgrades that offer peace of mind for residents who have to be away from their homes for a certain amount of time.
With all the different smart home technologies available, you can choose to install them overtime or invest in them all at once. Depending on your rental property’s location and the type of renters you want to attract, you can begin making a few upgrades while the opportunity is at hand.
Would you like to learn more about strategies to make your rental home as profitable as it can be, year after year? Give Real Property Management Affiliates a call! Our Bellaire rental market experts can offer valuable tips and suggestions to maximize your investment property’s potential, as well as our highly-rated property management services. You can reach us online or call us at 713-539-5765.
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