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Remodeling? Don’t Alter These 5 Unique Features

Living room featuring a stylish fireplace and unique decor elements, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.If you’re preparing an older Santa Monica rental property for new tenants, you may be deliberating on processes and ways to renovate the home, and definitely hoping to appeal to a new generation of renters. But, on the other hand, before you initiate tearing out or painting over things, there are various features in older homes that you shouldn’t fix up or remodel. Not only are these features that lend a home polish, beauty, and character but, in actuality, trying to change them may end up being significantly more expensive than it’s worth. Before you alter any unique features of your property, think of the benefits of keeping the features on our list.

Hardwood Floors

You may be thinking only about the long-term maintenance involved. Don’t be awfully fast to remove or cover up hardwood flooring. Both you and your tenants can appreciate the beauty of a hardwood floor, and it may even greatly help boost your property values. Just think of all the carpet cleaning you can steer clear of after each move-out.

Exposed Beams and Mantels

In a similar way, the property has wooden mantels or exposed ceiling beams, think twice before choosing to remove or paint over them. Natural wood features remain exceedingly popular with homeowners and renters and add a warm beauty as well as elegance to any room. Refinish a wooden mantel or leave your rustic wood beams just as it is, giving off a charming farmhouse feel that will absolutely distinguish your rental.

Millwork, Arches, and Pocket Doors

Older homes, particularly those built before the turn of the twentieth century, in general, have unique design features namely distinctive crown molding, arched doorways, pocket doors, and even medallions and other trim on the ceilings and walls. Although such portions may not seem to have a place in modern architecture, think again! Such unique details are trendy and in demand once more, which will only very much add to your rental property’s appeal.

Stained Glass

Another remarkably unique feature often found in older homes is stained glass. Stained glass windows have had their peaks and valleys in popularity over the years, and while some people might not actually like them much, others find them quite charming. On the other hand, that doesn’t specify you should tear it out.

Colored glass panes effectively help add light to dark spaces while upholding privacy. Besides, you can always move the stained glass panes to a less blatant place in the house, such as a bathroom window. This will help preserve the home’s unique style and history while permitting you to appeal to a wide range of renters.

Banquettes and Butler Pantries

After many years of homes built without utility rooms and built-in features, appeal and demand for these valuable elements has returned stronger than ever. This is exactly why, if your older rental home has a butler pantry (small room next to the kitchen) or banquettes (built-in bench seating), you should think of keeping them. Homeowners and renters alike want the utility and convenience of built-ins, while a butler pantry makes a superb coffee station, work, or storage area.

Planning a rental property renovation is always a challenge, could even turn into a problem. However, it’s vital not to fail to notice the appeal of your property’s unique details. Rather than trying to just remove them, working with them can be of great value toward adding character, charm, and value to your property.

Would you like to find out more about creating a rental property that tenants will love? You can count on the local experts at Real Property Management Generations. Make it a point to call us at 310-907-5646 or contact us online.

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