Charm is now extra labor....As you mention...Add to it about anything fragile, too high end (unless a luxury rental), too complicated, or risky (think fireplaces or pools)...heck, even the large yard you may like as a owner is just more to mow as a  Landlord..Think about everything from fixtures to flooring in terms of fair rental conditon and durability in prepping your house to rent and in choosing rentals...Also, the  pristine show conditon of the new home or hgtv is not fair rental conditon (look at the similar rentals in your are and their conditon and amenities as a guide)...Best of luck..

Paying the minimum to purchase a non durable good, vacation, new clothing, etc, is a bad idea. 

We are definitely a higher end product in our area, but the material choices are also made with durability in mind as well as design.  

I like the metal for durability and longevity. 

I'm looking for long-lasting durable adhesive that does not necessarily have a long dry/cure time.

I heard that there are no problems selling or refinancing these types of homes since they're actually made of better/more durable construction than homes built on site.

Durable goods have a 5 to 7 year depreciable life usually on the tax tables. 

@James MasottiIf you are going to put down laminate in a rental you want a minimum of an AC3 rating for durability.  

I'm looking for something dark that is durable. 

I was leaning more towards black appliances since it will (likely) be more aesthetically durable; especially considering that since it's a student population and we will likely not have one long-term tenant.The flip side is that SS is popular and I think students will appreciate having SS (as long as it shows nice) and we might be able to squeeze a few extra rent dollars marketing the place.Thanks in advance for your input.