8 Ways to Make an Older Home Feel Modern

If your Minnetonka rental property is obviously older, you may be worried about attracting quality tenants. This is certainly relevant if you have newer rental homes in your local market. It can be hard for an older home to compete against newer ones, particularly if it demands certain updates. Happily, there are several methods that you can apply to help your older rental home look more modern and maintain that strong appeal. In point of fact, with a bit of time and some money, you can give your rental home a modern makeover that will not only help you attract tenants but may boost your property values, too. In this list, we will indicate the best approaches to make your older rental home look modern.

1. Go Bright. The modern look and feel are all about light and space. To make your rental’s interiors look better, use light, neutral paint for walls and trim with blasts of bright color as accents. Just don’t go for too many colors at once – a single accent door or wall is usually all you’ll need.
2. Open It Up. If your older rental home has a lot of walls dividing the main living areas, think about taking one or more of them down. Modern home design is more open-concept, with massive living areas that flow from space to space. Simply removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, for instance, can make your rental feel more open and modern inside.
3. Upgrade Cabinet Hardware and Faucets. In the kitchen, a cheap upgrade that can significantly modernize the room is to replace cabinet hardware and the faucet. Clean, bright lines in your cabinet handles and faucets can make a great difference in the look and feel of the kitchen.
4. Remove Popcorn Ceilings. If your rental property does have a popcorn ceiling lying inside, it’s best to get rid of it. Popcorn ceilings were prevalent at one time, but now they instantly date a rental home’s interior. Utilize a smooth neutral finish on your rental’s ceilings instead.
5. Opt-Out of Carpet. One more great choice to modernize an older rental is to replace carpeted floors with hard surface flooring, like tough wood-look vinyl planks. Vinyl planks are not much more expensive in comparison to carpet and will surely last much longer than carpet, anyway. Furthermore, it will help your rental’s interior rooms feel more open and airy, which is the interpretation of modern design.
6. Upgrade Outlets and Lights. Undesirable or old-fashioned electrical outlets and light fixtures can make your rental seem awful. By simply replacing both with new, modern styles, you can optimize the contemporary look of any room.
7. New Doors. Your rental doors are also a good idea for modernizing your property. Your rental’s front door, in particular, is an essential element of your property’s curb appeal. Think about replacing an old or outdated door with something new and modern, specifically in a bright, complementary color. An attractive door can add the welcoming touch your rental needs to remain competitive in today’s rental market.
8. Smart Locks, Thermostat, and More. Finally, today’s modern rental homes include a range of smart upgrades, such as smart locks, smart thermostats, and so on. These devices can be controlled from a smartphone and can greatly enhance the security and efficiency of any property. Your tenants will enjoy the convenience and savings, and you will embrace the boost in rental rates and property values you’ll probably get as a result.

Would you like to know more about quick and affordable ways to update your rental property? Give Real Property Management Viking a call! Our Minnetonka property management team helps rental property owners like you create and maintain profitable rental homes. Contact us online for more information.