With Commercial, the variables that come into play are vechicles per day, ease of ingress/egress, aesthetics, loading dock, signage, visibility, interior dimensions (square is better than long deep rectangles), neighboring tenants etc. 

We do the same exact aesthetic on all of our renovations so there are specific materials and color choices we do every time.

I agree that these standards can cause rentals to seem nicer than other owner-occupied homes, however I believe that the standards aren't unreasonably high and that it's our duty as landlords to ensure that properties are kept in good condition, both in terms of safety and aesthetics, for our tenants and also the community. 

We did this for aesthetics and also to reduce wear and tear on the property by not having mud and dirt tracked indoors quite as much.

IMO it takes very little expertize to construct or decorate in the "modern-contemporary" aesthetic.

For reference we bought a 4/2 in Big Bass Lake (aesthetically it’s looks like a cabin and we went with a modern, Scandinavian design approach, though the bathrooms and kitchens are still original).

@Erin Wysocki  You obviously did well financially but aesthetically, I'm sorry to say,  I think it's poor. 

Updates include: full aesthetic renovation, complete remodel of kitchen and bathrooms, new expansive front and back porches, slight floor plan alterations, structural repairs, complete electrical rewire and service upsize, all new plumbing throughout, new roof, and all new landscaping.

Experienced real estate investors know their markets like the back of their hand--they know which areas are trendy, which are not, where the employment is located, where the amenities are, which areas have the best schools, which areas have the highest crime rates, the average income in various neighborhoods, the aesthetics of each neighborhood, what types of tenants are likely (or unlikely) to want to live in a particular neighborhood, etc., etc. ...all of these things can impact vacancy.Additionally, there are countless factors related to the property itself that will impact vacancy.

We've noticed that tenants usually like to buy one that fits their aesthetic, so it's not worth the effort.