We renovated the kitchen, bathrooms, and light fixtures to make it more modern and higher quality materials.

This property sits dead center around many modern homes so I’m trying to help her come up with the best possible outlet so she can receive the most desirable deal possible since she’s willing to sell but not willing to settle because she knows her land has to be worth more that the 3 million the home development company has offered her.

New trim can give a more modern look to a rental without breaking the bank.

Unless they’ve been updated a 1940s house has eighty year old plumbing, electric and HVAC that may need to be modernized. 

The answer to your question is YES, recessed lighting looks more modern, BUT it's not necessary. 

At $475/month I would also think the units are very dated and substantial modernization and improvement ($$$) may be necessary to bump the rent up.

Bldg may be in good shape, but I doubt it's been fully modernized and renovated.

One of these was offered to us essentially for free, but it would take half-a-million to update the property(energy efficiency, modern electrical and plumbing, etc) yet retain its 1880s majesty ... we would need to cut it into three ~1600 sq ft units (one per floor), but would need to be able to sell them for ~300K to make the project worth while ... the market just isn't there at this time.

As much as I like the looks, it certainly does reveal dust and blemishes easier.Here's a scheme I really like, and want to try because it gives a dark modern look while most likely hiding some small particulate a little better.This stuff is pricey, though.

t=484690Galvanized water supply is something I don't like, because the pipe is corroding from the inside, and eventually the corrosion can lead to blockage of the pipe.Iron waste pipe is somewhat more modern than alternatives like say clay ...