For your Southwest Waterfront 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. The most profitable rental properties have an 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
It can be tempting to please today’s renters by incorporating current fads into your rental home’s interiors or even exteriors. But to create a timeless look that will last, it’s a much better idea to stick to a simple, classic design. The simple, sophisticated style of a classic design is both functional and highly adaptable. To achieve a classic look, you will want to choose neutral colors and natural materials like wood, stone, and brick. Unlike trendy designs, classic design is timeless as it complements a wide range of styles and themes more than 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. While you might want to add that accent wall or repaint your property the color of the year, you might end up spending unnecessarily to keep your rental property from looking dated. If you want to give your rental home timeless appeal, stick to neutral shades in your paint and flooring choices instead. Neutrals work well in a rental house because they make a great backdrop for renters to customize the space with their own style. Soft beiges, grays, and crisp white trim are great accents that allow the resident to still make it feel like home.
Invest in Good Lighting
Another way to future-proof your rental property is to make sure you use 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. While it seems attractive in the short term, investing in good lighting lets you save on utility costs and, in some cases, could increase interest in your rental house, making it easier to rent and encouraging renters to stay even longer. This is because few renters want a home that has dark or inadequately lit rooms.
If your rental has outdated light fixtures, switch them out for new, classic fixtures that provide enough light. When you can, replace fluorescent lighting with modern recessed lighting. At the very least, switch out those cheap light bulbs for quality LED bulbs. This alone will make your unit more energy efficient and greatly reduce the number of times you need to change the light bulbs each year.
Add Smart Upgrades
Finally, unlike other fleeting trends, smart technologies are here to stay. Your rental property will be ready for a future where these technologies are in demand so you ought to consider adding some upgrades now. 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.
There are a variety of smart home technologies you can add overtime or invest in 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 Washington DC a call! Our Southwest Waterfront 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 202-813-9993.
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