Compiling a list of best Faucets, fixtures, appliances, flooring

[Brian Warren]

I am newer to multi family rentals.

I have acquired 10 units in the last year and a half. I’m looking to make things as cookie cutter as possible to simplify repairs and renovations when a tenant moves out.

I’m looking to make a list of durable long lasting faucets , fixtures , appliances, flooring, and anything else that would be helpful.

This list may be helpful for a lot of people besides myself.

Looking for brands and models, high efficiency fixtures.

Thank you

[Charley C.]

flooring : solid all the way through porcelain tile. The caveat is the labor. its sharp cornered a lot like marble, they have to apply thin set to both the floor and the tile, float it carefully,, and if it says porcelain, make sure its not just the coating they are talking about. Lot of places will try to screw you like that

plumbing: Yea Delta.. good one! other ones can be good to.  Watch out for traditional american companies that import from China, you will pay a high price down the road on anything coming from there or anywhere too faraway to be accountable. I have had some shower valves give out that never used to give out. I seen all the faucets in a home screw up with off brands too.  

Kenmore can be dirt cheap and easy to fix . Most the appliance problems I get are from brutal shipping and sloppy installations. really don't have real good of advice on appliances. Do stay away from ice dispensed (they will freeze up), just put ice makers with in the freezer part. 

I get my lighting and hardware from wayfair.com and build.com if you got a lot of apartments, get them to get you your own rep, you will get better deals at both places, 

I can tell you that last week, a tenants key just up and decided not to work,  who ever heard of new door hardware failing like that ?. Made is the USA has more exact tooling and more precise fasteners on anything mechanical. When you install and or repair items that are from a half a world away, you will see things not quite fitting as well, failing, giving you work and money to spend down the road.   

recap on flooring: stay out of fancy showrooms and or any sales person in a contractors show room dressed to kill. Find a real builder rep, get technical information about hardness and durability, even vinyl can be good.. pay attention to the hardness ratings

Stay away from flooring with fake raised course wood grains, they will fill up with a dark grime between the grains

Ceiling fans: this I would not ever order, you buy 3 or 4 at a time and take them back when you hear a buzzing noise. I ordered fans and been screwed like that, yea warranty covers the parts but to uninstall 40 fans at once??!? watch out for that. I found the cheap but well known brands from homedpeot and lowes being my best option. 

Lighting?:  I don't go local, go to wayfair or build.com, seems to all be good because they don't have the mechanical component to screw up.

I have used Amazon, and their OK if you use the next day delivery, most everything I ordered that took a while would cancel a day before it was suppose to ship. Wayfair and build.com, never once did that to me.

Good luck