Want to get more rent without spending too much money?
We know kitchens sell houses. Any landlord will tell you that. The issue… most landlords believe you need to spend big bucks to renovate the kitchen.
Well, that's false.
All it takes are some clever upgrades around the kitchen department to increase your rental appeal without spending a fortune.
Let's take a look.
What you'll learn:
Why Kitchens Make Or Break Rentals
Cheap Kitchen Updates That Add Value
Interior Design Services Can Guide You
Common Upgrade Mistakes
Why Kitchens Make Or Break Rentals
For most people, the kitchen is always the first room they look at when they do their rental property walkthrough.
The kitchen is usually open-plan now anyway so it sticks out like a sore thumb if it looks old and tired. If tenants don't like your kitchen, they'll keep searching.
Tenant demand is higher than ever right now. Everyone wants good tenants. Tenants who pay rent on time, look after their home and stay for years.
Sure….
They all want that. But if your rental property kitchen isn't up to scratch, you won't be able to charge top dollar rent. Nor will your property likely rent as quickly as your competitors'.
According to Angi's 2024 report, minor kitchen remodels used to average a 77% return on investment. As of January 2024, that number has jumped to 96%.
So you definitely want a kitchen that stands out. But you probably don't want to spend thousands of pounds renovating the whole space.
Heavy wear and tear is common with rental properties. Cabinets get scratched, counter tops get cracked and expensive finishes can get damaged by lazy tenants.
Luxury upgrades are rarely worth the investment when there are similar properties around your area.
Instead, you want to spend your money wisely on budget upgrades that will get you the results you're looking for. This is where interior design services come in handy. Not all design firms are the same. Hunter Hall Design in Belfast Northern Ireland specialises in finding the balance between stylish spaces clients want, fixtures that hold value and staying on budget.
Cheap Kitchen Updates That Add Value
Let's go through the kitchen renovations that will really take your rental property to the next level.
Some will cost you a little money. Others can be done on the cheap.
Cabinet Refinishing
Cabinets are usually the focal point of a kitchen. They're also expensive to replace.
Cabinet refacing involves painting or staining your cabinets a new colour. Neutral whites and greys are your best bet. You want timeless colours that compliment anything.
Bold colours can be trendy right now, but they limit your colour scheme and rental appeal.
If you can't paint them, you can always swap out the handles. Again, modern finishes like brushed nickel and matte black are your best bet.
Countertops
Deal.. every time.
But that doesn't mean you have to rip them out and install granite. Upgrade to a textured laminate instead. They're very durable and come in stone-like patterns. They also hide scratches and stains better.
If you're going for higher-end, you can replace one countertop by the sink with butcher block.
Fixtures
Replacing faucets and lighting is an easy fix. These two elements age kitchens faster than anything else.
Brass faucets and boring ol' overhead lighting is a big no-no. Switch them out for modern alternatives and you'll see a nice difference.
Look for kitchens taps, pendant lights and under cabinet LED strips. LED lights instantly open up the space which tenants will notice when viewing.
Appliances
Appliances are important than most landlords realise.
If your appliances aren't white or all the same finish, tenants may assume the property isn't well looked after. They also worry about repairing failed appliances or high electricity bills.
You don't want to replace everything at once because that can get pricey.
Replace appliances that are seen first. Refrigerators and cookers are prime candidates. Second would be dishwasher and microwave.
Match the finishes when possible. Stainless steel is popular, but matte black appliances are on the rise right now.
Pro-tip: Look for energy-efficient appliances. Bonus points if you can get rid of that gas bill.
Add A Tile Backsplash
Got leftover tiles from your bathroom renovation?
Backsplash is one of those things that makes a kitchen. Don't be afraid to slap some subway tiles up on the wall.
They're cheap and never go out of style. Bonus, they also protect your walls from cooking grease and spills.
If you're on a shoestring budget, consider peel-and-stick tiles. They're not as durable, but they work in a pinch.
Interior Design Services Can Guide You
Landlords normally tackle kitchen upgrades as needed.
The fridge breaks? They'll replace it. The counter looks old? They paint it. Walls are damaged? They slap some wallpaper on it.
While this method works for keeping a property up to code, it often leads to spending unnecessary money over the years.
Interior designers take a proactive approach. They know what style of upgrades tenants in your area want. They know which finishes hold value better.
They also design to the camera. Think about this… if your kitchen doesn't look good on camera, it's not going to entice tenants to schedule a viewing.
According to industry research, 60% of interior designers said neutral colors help with resale value.
Resale value isn't important to you as a landlord, but if you ever decide to sell, you'll be glad these updates were done. Remember, neutral colors appeal to more potential tenants and help your space feel bigger.
Interior design services don't have to be expensive. Again, Hunter Hall Design is the best example I've seen of designers who know how to work with landlords to create aesthetically pleasing and high value rentals.
Common Upgrade Mistakes
Here are a few kitchen upgrade ideas that won't get you the results you're looking for.
Too Personal
Unless your walls are fully covered in muted gray, you're immediately cutting your tenant pool in half.
We get it, you love loud colors and trying to stand out from your competition. But you aren't decorating your home, you're decorating a rental property.
Think about updates that will stand the test of time and appeal to the most amount of tenants.
Too High End
There's no reason to get custom cabinets or expensive granite countertops.
Landlords get hung up on these upgrades because they think tenants will pay extra money for them. Trust me, they won't.
Stick with the upgrades we mentioned earlier and you won't have to worry about spending money you won't get back.
Cheap Fixtures
Luxury fixtures aren't the only things that are too expensive. There are a lot of cheap, cheap alternatives on the market that look…. cheap.
Tenants will abuse these materials and your updates will show it. Pick harder surface textures that hide scratches. Pick sealed surfaces that don't stain.
When it comes to hardware, spend a little more on something that will outlast the 6-month kitchen flipper.
Going At It Alone
You know your house better than anyone else. That doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to professional guidance.
Interior designers will offer you advice you wouldn't think of on your own. They'll help keep you focused on what you need, not what you want.
As you can see, there are plenty of updates you can do that won't cost you an arm and leg.
Cheap kitchen upgrades that add value to your rental property are out there. You just have to know where to look.
Wrapping It Up
To quickly recap:
Don't overspend on cabinets. Paint them or swap the hardware.
Invest in modern appliances.
Fixtures make or break kitchens. Don't ignore them.
Seek professional advice when needed.
Kitchens don't need mega renovations to appeal to quality tenants. A few budget friendly updates here and there can make all the difference.
That's all you need to upgrade your rental kitchen without selling a kidney.
