Tenant wants to break her lease, kitchen remodel before she goes?

[Jon K.]

One of my tenants wants to break her lease early at the end of this July. I'm fine with it if I can find a suitable replacement as she's well below market and her lease is actually set to end in November. It's a 2B 1Ba row home in good condition. The one area that is lacking in the house is the kitchen. It could really benefit from some cosmetic updates. It has a cheap looking drop ceiling, an old yellowed laminate floor, and worn formica countertops. It's important to note that it is a galley kitchen.

The current plan is at a minimum to replace the flooring, countertops and to remove the drop ceiling. Then repair the existing plaster ceiling above it (It should just be some paint scraping/minor patching). I am considering removing the wall that separates the kitchen from the dining room as well but that depends on if it's load baring and where the utilities are run as they are within that wall.

Decent amount of work. I think it's worth getting done if I can do it for a reasonable price before trying to show the house to help attract a higher quality tenant. At the same time, it may not be necessary to do all this to attract a suitable tenant. Considering the unit is occupied, should I simply start showing as is to see if I get some interest or do I just knock out the upgrades prior to the busy season for prospective tenants?

Any other general advice on pulling off a remodel while a unit is occupied? Thanks BP!