@Jason Lee I may not be a successful investor yet but I can tell you I've finally learned this is not a get rich quick scheme.

According to a designer I know, if you want more contrast, Softer Tan is the only SW beige without any pink tint to it.For exterior, we have found a nice combo of Serious Gray with white trim and Sundried Tomato doors and shutters...we have received more compliments on this color scheme than almost anything we have done...see listing below...http://www.irongatecharleston.com/listings/1808-sundancer-lane/

I wanted to clarify a couple of thingsFirst I spent a little more on things but not a ton for example I found a water fall faucet for the bathroom for 49.00I found one of those tall kitchen faucets where the sprayer is built into the faucet and pulls out from the faucet housing itselfI purchased one for 70.00 from a close out placeand the other for 131 with soap dispenser and plateit was a 300 dollar faucet that was open box returnedthe floating vanity cost 313 but came with a medicine cabinetand it looks great i think a regular vanity was about 99 and medicine cab for 40 so I spent twice the amount of rental gradeI decided to put my focus on the bathroom and kitchen I used bead board backsplash in one unit but splurged on glass in the otherboth look pretty great and look way better than blank wallsI put in vinyl plank flooring looks like oak and has a great look cost 40.00 for the whole bathroomI did a two color paint scheme in the bathroom that is very eye catching but the paint I used was oops paint so it cost me 5.00 a gallonand everyone loves the way the colors balance off each other it overall my cost in the bathroom and kitchen was \in fact my total paint cost for both units was 160 for 10 gallons plus three gallons so 113I dont think I spent that much extra but the look of pleasure on my tenants faces when they see the apartment and what they are gettingI saved money on the laminate floor over capeting I payed 79c sqft by buying clearance flooringmy contractor charged me 640 to install 1000 sqft with my helpI added the washer dryer closet so they dont have to walk to the laundromat That was my biggest expensenow the question is will I get more for the unitsI dont know my goal was not to get more but to get exactly the tenants I want without waiitngI dont want vacancies and I dont want tenants who will tear my stuff up which is what I see a lot of in this neighborhoodsometimes its not just what you bring in it is what you dont have to spend out if I can minimize vacancies over a five year period and minimize repair costs that is fair compensation. in my humble opinion

I really think we are investing in debt as a money making scheme which works but, well that is another discussion.

Especially “rounds of funding” not the kind of words that most people who would use a credit card scheme would tend to use.

I will be on the next flight  :) as this is what I do all over the country.. this is just one of 12 markets we work like this.Its fun its profitable and its a natural progression after 40 years of slogging it out in all sorts of different RE models and schemes. 

What color scheme do you use ?

In the grand scheme, the industry expense metric is 40% of rents for all but debt service. 

I use some different tactics to achieve this, so it may not work for everyone, but the success of a business always depends on its operator.It is pretty specific to the town, the tenants, and rental scheme so if you want to pm me we can discuss it in greater detail.  

I have used glass, pebble, mosaics in muted almost monochromatic schemes...prospective tenants appreciate the upscale look and properties rent easier.