Tenant-Proofing a SFR

[Account Closed]

I'm a firm believer in tapping other peoples accumulated knowledge and I'd like to get some feedback from our seasoned landlords here on BP.

We've heard of baby-proofing a house, but what are some things you guys do to "tenant-proof" a house. What I'm looking for is stuff to install during a possible rehab stage that will keep maintenance down on a long term rental unit.

I.E. Scored concrete floors vs. tile, etc.

Any suggestions for us new to the land lording business?

[Mitch Kronowit]

Interesting thread. In our case, we don't gut the properties we purchase for rentals, we work around whatever the house comes with. For example, one of our rentals had ceiling fans in every bedroom, so we left them in. They're a nice selling feature, we haven't had one complaint with them in almost 2 years, and if and when we do, they're very cheap to fix/replace.

If there was some formula or model we followed with our rentals to make them easier to maintain, while still appealing to our customers (tenants), it would be using a satin or semi-gloss paint sheen for the walls (easier to clean up scuffs, dust, etc.), darker earth-toned carpets with a random pattern (helps hide stains), ceramic tile in high traffic areas, and cheap (but attractive) fixtures for lighting and plumbing. For landscaping, we keep the lawn small or non-existant, install native drought resistant plants watered via a drip system, and use large quantities of mulch and/or gravel for ground cover. I also use Kwikset locksets exclusively since they're very easy for me to re-key.

One thing I have in mind for the future is if we ever have to replace a bathroom vanity, make sure the countertop or sink accepts a 4" faucet rather than a 3 hole spread (much cheaper to replace).

Other than that, every home is unique with its own character. We try to tailor each one to the market it's in rather than try to "shoe-horn" each one into some generic package.