If you’re arranging and preparing an older Utah County rental property for new tenants, you may be pondering about ways to renovate the home and, with luck, attract a new generation of renters. But take note, before you kick off tearing out or painting over things, there are some features in older homes that you shouldn’t remodel. Not only are these the features that grant a home beauty and character, but as a matter of fact, aiming to change them may wind up being far more expensive than it’s worth. Before you reconstruct any unique features of your property, consider the benefits of keeping the features on our list.
Hardwood Floors
You may only be considering the long-term maintenance involved. Don’t be so fast to take out or hide hardwood flooring. Both you and your tenants can enjoy the beauty of a hardwood floor, and it can possibly even help give your property values a boost. Just take into consideration all the carpet cleaning you can effectively avoid after each move-out.
Exposed Beams and Mantels
In a similar way, if your property has wooden mantels or exposed ceiling beams, reconsider trying to abolish or paint over them. Natural wood features continue to be very well-liked with homeowners and renters and incorporate a warm beauty to any room. Refinish a wooden mantel or leave your rustic wood beams just as it is, imparting an excellent farmhouse feel that will significantly differentiate your rental.
Millwork, Arches, and Pocket Doors
Older homes, definitely those built before the turn of the twentieth century, in many cases have unique design features like special crown molding, arched doorways, pocket doors, and even medallions and other trim on the ceilings and walls. But even though such features may not look like they have a place in modern architecture, think again! Such unique details are trendy and in-demand all over again, which will only intensify your rental property’s appeal.
Stained Glass
Another special attribute frequently found in older homes is stained glass. The popularity of stained glass windows has come and gone over the decades, and certain people will, as a matter of fact, always find it unpleasant. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean you should remove it. Colored glass panes help bring light to dark spaces while still securing privacy. Having said that, you can definitely always move the stained glass panes to a less prominent place in the house, such as a bathroom window. This will preserve the home’s unique style and history while affording you to appeal to a wide range of renters.
Banquettes and Butler Pantries
After decades of homes built without utility rooms and built-in features, demand for these useful elements has come back stronger than ever. Hence, if your older rental home has a butler pantry (small room next to the kitchen) or banquettes (built-in bench seating), you should take into account maintaining them. Homeowners and renters alike appreciate the utility and convenience of built-ins, while a butler pantry makes a great coffee station, work, or storage area.
Planning a rental property renovation is oftentimes a real challenge and even a problem. But actually, it’s imperative not to ignore the appeal of your property’s unique details. Rather than trying to get rid of them, working with them can be of great importance to effectively add character, charm, and value to your property.
Looking to learn more about creating a rental property that tenants will choose? Trust the local experts at Real Property Management Utah County. You can call us at 801-889-1517 or contact us online.
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