Scott McGillivray’s Tips for Renters: These Are the Home Upgrades Landlords Will Love You For

One of my favourite tricks for upgrading a rental property is to install a new faucet. Too often apartments have old faucets that look dingy and dated. You can easily fix this by installing one that is stylish and new. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive one on the market – just something that looks good, fits the space and is properly installed.

If you find that cold air is getting in during the winter or the air conditioning is escaping during the summer, you might want to think about caulking around the windows to prevent air loss. Sealing up leaks saves both money and energy, which will no doubt make your landlord very happy.

At some point in every renter’s life they’ve walked into an apartment with windows covered in dingy white mini blinds. If this happens to you, don’t just cover them up with curtains. Take them down and install new ones. It will freshen up the space and make everything look so much better. There’s a good chance your landlord will love them, but always hang on to the old ones so you can reinstall them if need be when you move out.

Most rental apartments come with basic kitchens that don’t have too many extras. You can make an easy upgrade your landlord will love by adding some storage solutions. Slide-out trays, pull-down shelves, plate organizers and dividers can all make life easier by keeping your things organized and accessible. If you plan on staying in your rental for a long time consider including some of these kitchen extras in a mini makeover.

Upgrading kitchen hardware is an easy, inexpensive way to pull a dated kitchen into the here and now. Remember not to focus exclusively on how it looks, but also how it feels. Anything you touch regularly in your home should feel good, so when it comes to kitchen hardware try to get the best quality you can afford.

The best way to give a space a clean, new look is with a coat of paint. Most landlords are more than happy to let tenants paint provided they agree to paint it back when they vacate. That said, sometimes there are parameters. Depending on the situation, your landlord may prefer to hire a painter and do it for you, but there may be limitations to the colours you can use.

Another paint project that can improve a space is updating trim. Baseboards, door casings and window casings can all get banged up over time. A fresh coat of white paint can do wonders.

Light fixtures have a big impact on a space, in both a practical way and a decorative way. If you’re not happy with the existing fixtures, either because they’re not attractive or they don’t provide you with enough light, switch them out. It’s not a big job and it can give you a completely new look. Also, consider adding dimmer switches so that you have even more control over your home’s ambiance.

At some point in every bathtub’s life the caulk around it will become cracked, stained and mouldy. When this happens you can fix it by removing the old caulk and reapplying. It only takes an hour or two and it can make the bathroom look a lot cleaner. More importantly, it will help to prevent leaks and mildew build up.

An upgraded vanity can really elevate the design of a bathroom, and since it’s a fixed item that you won’t take with you when you go, your landlord may be willing to pay or split the cost. Because this kind of upgrade can increase the value of the space a little bit, the landlord may be able to charge more rent after you leave.

If you live in an apartment with ugly old radiators you can cover them up with custom rad covers. If you don’t want to spend the money having them made, they can be a fairly easy DIY project. Just be sure to leave somewhere for the heat to escape. Many landlords won’t want to be bothered having them made, but most won’t object if you do.

If you’ve got a thermostat in your apartment and it isn’t already programmable, you should think about replacing it. It can save you a significant amount on your bill because you’ll be able to control it from your smartphone all day long. Having programmable thermostats in units is a big plus for landlords who want their units to be appealing to renters.

Replacing a standard showerhead with a new one is something that can benefit both you and your landlord. You’ll get a great looking new model, and if you opt for a low-flow version, it will save water, and hence money. That’s something any landlord can get behind.

People are often amazed at how big a difference even the smallest items can make. Switching out old or broken switch plates and electrical covers for sleeker, cleaned up pieces will give the room a subtly updated appearance. When you vacate and your landlord needs to rent out the apartment again, this is the kind of thing that will give the unit a more updated and modern feel.

Custom built-ins, whether it’s bookshelves, a media unit or a in a closet, can be a great addition to an apartment. However it’s a big project and whether or not your landlord will be agreeable depends on the situation. However, like upgraded cabinetry, built-ins have the potential to increase the value of the property, meaning your landlord can charge higher rent. Present your case to the landlord and see what he or she thinks. You might be in luck!