There is in-fill building happening all around American village.The Lakewood area southeast of campus has gotten expensive but 2 blocks east are some bargains.Woodcroft is always a safe bet but many of the houses are a dark/rustic style that are hard to update.There are also some cool houses going up in the neighborhood just west of the ball-park on the other side of highway 147 around roxboro/mangum, I see that as an up and coming area due to proximity to downtown.Let me know if I can help further!

And if I did decide to keep the current tile floors, what color/type of cabinets and countertops would match?

Sure that may be "risky" but tenants want certainty and leaving them in the dark contributes to anxiety.

I think that showing them these things helps them to better take care of the property, and helps to reduce potential damage if a pipe breaksI schedule showings 15 minutes apartI waste less time driving to and from the property, and between applicantsThey see other applicants arriving or leaving, so they know there are others interestedI ask them to call to confirm at a specific time a few hours before their appointmentI don't have as many no-shows (believe it or not, there are still no-shows even when they called 1/2 hour earlier to confirm)I print our standards on the application (600 min credit score, 3x rent as income, no smokers, we do background checks, etc)Allows applicants to decide if they want to weed themselves outI encourage applicants to take the application home to fill it outI offer to pick it up at their home so I can see how they liveIt requires them to follow up and return it if they're interested, so I don't have to screen through people who apply everywhere with the shotgun approachIf they insist on filling it out on the spot, I call to confirm a fact from their application before further screening to make sure they're still interestedWhen they turn in their application, I tell them I'll be conducting background checks and ask if they have any surprises I'll hear about that they want to discuss.They've often told me about things that didn't appear on the reportThey've asked for the application back, said they wouldn't qualify if I'm going to do a background checkAll of my units have pass-through knobs and deadboltsThe tenant has to actively lock the door behind themThey can't lock themselves out by pulling the door shut behind themselvesAll of my units have been changed over to a master key systemI have one key that unlocks every door that I own, including padlocksInstead of replacing the whole deadbolt, I can swap out the core in 30 secondsNo more softball of keysI have a lock core in a different color that I can put on vacant units that are being worked on so I can give contractors a keyI have a standard set of 4 colors that I paint every unitIt makes it feel more like home if the walls aren't stark whiteIt doesn't cost anything extra to paint rooms different colorsThey're all earth tone colors that go with any furnitureWhen tenants ask if they can paint their unit, I tell them yes, but here are my standard colorsI've eliminated carpet - I use tile, snap-together vinyl laminate, concrete, hardwood (if it's existing) or linoleum (rarely)Tenant can bring their own throw rugs if they wantReduces allergensEasier to cleanI don't use the old snap-together pressboard laminate that would curl up with moistureI pay contractors as soon as I receive an invoice and I know the work is done to my satisfactionContractors don't want to chase down customers any more than we want to chase down tenantsI get a quick response in an emergency because they know I'm going to pay right awayI never say "no" - I always give them an option of how to get it donePets are okay, but there's a monthly feeIf a pet is sneaked in, there's a fine plus the monthly feeIf a pet is deemed dangerous to the property or neighbors, they can get rid of the pet or move outIf you're caught smoking, there's a large cleanup feeIf they want to paint, I let them choose from my colorsIf they're going to be late, the late fees are clearly definedIf they want to move in another roommate, that person has to apply and be qualifiedIf they want to move because they need more space, they can move into one of my larger units without breaking the leaseIf they don't mow the lawn or clear the snow, we can arrange to have a service take care of it at an additional chargeI'm sure there are other things I've added to my toolbox over the years, but this is a good list to start. 

In some states it is not allowed.Because most states do not allow a landlord to legally use a security deposit to cover unpaid rent the amount of the deposit has no direct coloration to the monthly rent and therefore there is no reason to have the amounts the same.

I use similar materials, finishes and colors for all projects.

This may be a shot in the dark and hopefully in the correct forum.I work for a company that is developing a 20k+ SF mill in Rhode Island.

To do so may end up with you in front of a judge explaining that orange not really your best color and how you may like a different serial number for a name.

A property that looks old and dated will be vacant far more then a nicer one that has been updated with new countertops, nice ceiling fans (not the cheap 4 blade white ones), new vanities, nicer faucets, exterior neutral paint colors, ceramic tile in kitchen and baths.  

I'd like some advice on color schemes.Flooring throughout the unit is laminate, medium brown color.