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Renovating Homes in San Diego to Attract High-Quality Tenants

Onyx Property Management • June 3, 2022

Renovating your San Diego rental property is always a good idea when you want to increase its rental value and attract high-quality tenants. There are some smaller modifications and improvements that you can make during turnover periods, such as fresh paint and sprucing up the lawn in a single-family home.

That vacancy period is also an ideal opportunity for some larger projects.

Upgrades and updates can be great for your return on investment (ROI) and tenant quality. However, much of the work that we normally recommend has become more expensive. Kitchen and bathroom remodels have grown more costly thanks to inflation, supply chain issues and higher price tags on supplies, labor, and materials.

This does not mean that you have to go completely over-budget when you’re trying to renovate your rental property in a cost-effective manner. It simply means you must be intentional and selective about what you’re willing to do and spend in an effort to make your property more appealing to good tenants.

Let’s talk about some of those bigger ticket items and simple updates that will produce the desired effect without costing too much money.

San Diego Rental Property Upgrades - Kitchens and Bathrooms

You may find that the cost of putting in a new kitchen or bathroom is prohibitive. It’s probably not necessary, either. Unless it’s completely worn and deteriorated, you should not renovate your entire kitchen in the current market.

There are some improvements you can make, however, that are worth the expenditure, especially if your goal is to attract high-quality tenants for the long term.

Focus on Appliances

Stainless steel appliances in the kitchen are an attractive upgrade that will increase what you earn and how quickly you attract good renters. If you do not have the budget for stainless steel, that’s okay. Just make sure that all your appliances match. Good tenants are looking for an appealing kitchen. They’ll want their stove, microwave and dishwasher to match their refrigerator. Look for cost-effective, energy-efficient appliances if you’re ready to replace those you currently have.

Look at Light Fixtures

Lighting in a rental home does not have to be generic and dull. Well-qualified tenants will especially appreciate good lighting in the kitchen and the bathrooms, so focus your lighting upgrades there. Fluorescent lighting can look dated. Good lighting can immediately change the look and feel of your kitchen and bathroom. When chosen and installed correctly, your new light fixtures will improve esthetics and functionality of the room. Lighting even impacts mood. Help your tenants have a better rental experience overall by providing some upgraded, modern lighting in the spaces where they need it most.

Replace Drawer and Cupboard Hardware

Easy, cosmetic upgrades are an understated way to make your rental home look more attractive to the best potential tenants in the San Diego rental market. Refacing your cabinets, for example, is more cost-effective than replacing them. You can change out the handles on your drawers and cupboards. This is an easy and cheap way to make your rental home more updated, especially in kitchens and bathrooms that may need a better look.

Create Extra Storage

Improvements that speak to functionality are often just as important to good tenants as those that speak to aesthetics. When it comes to functionality, consider a new medicine cabinet in the bathroom. This will appeal to tenants who want a place to store personal items. Adding a new mirror over the bathroom sink is a great aesthetic option that won’t cost you a large amount of money. Shelving, new towel racks and toilet paper holders are also inexpensive additions that can be used to modernize a bathroom.

Toilets, Tubs and Tile

Check around the toilets and the tubs to ensure that the caulking is in good shape. Consider getting tile and grout professionally cleaned if it’s dirty or moldy. Change toilet seats if they are loose, faded, or soiled.

San Diego Turnover Tips

These intentional improvements will help you attract the best tenants quickly, reducing your vacancy loss and even increasing what you earn.

Don’t forget the simple upgrades that should be made every time you’re turning the property over from one tenant to another. Fresh paint is essential. The cost of paint has increased as have a lot of other supplies, but it’s worth the investment. You cannot rent out a home to great tenants with faded and chipped paint, nail holes or stains on the walls. It’s an instant turn-off.

Instead of touching up in areas where there may be nail holes or stains, paint the entire wall. Bad touch-ups are noticeable. If you only paint a portion of the wall, the paint may not match exactly.

Floors will also need attention during turnovers. Clean the carpets professionally. An ideal upgrade would be to replace the carpet with hard surface flooring. This is more attractive to tenants because it’s easier to maintain and clean. There are fewer allergens; pet odors and dirt can often get trapped in carpet fibers. Upgrading the floors will be a larger financial undertaking than simply cleaning or replacing carpet. Consider whether the renovation is in your budget.

Balancing the need to save money against the need to attract the best tenants and the highest rental values is not always easy. What you are willing to spend and upgrade will depend on the age and condition of your property, the competition in the San Diego rental market, and the investment goals that you have established for yourself.

Seeking advice from a local property manager can be helpful. We understand the market and we know what tenants are looking for in their next rental home. As experienced San Diego property management professionals, Onyx Property Management serves the entire county, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, and the surrounding areas. We would be happy to meet at no cost to you, take a look at your rental property and make recommendations about renovations and upgrades that can increase the value of your property and attract better tenants. Contact us today, we are here to help.

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