Investing In Apartment Buildings: Renovation Tips and Photos

Forcing Appreciation On Multifamily Properties With a Value Added Strategy

Some Before and After Pictures of Apartment Building Renovations

I like to buy apartment buildings in need of improvements, but usually not in need of major renovations. Poor management and distracted property owners often lead to deferred maintenance…simple fixes that can dramatically force appreciation by raising income and lowering expenses.

When you raise the Net Operating Income on a multifamily property (typically called NOI = Income – Expenses), you raise the value on a property. Here are some tips on how to strategically renovate a multifamily property for profit.

Major Apartment Building Renovations:

Some property renovations are costly and should be considered when you negotiate the purchase price.

Tips:

I negotiated a seller credit for repairs for the major renovations that needed to be done on this 29 unit apartment building. During contract negotiations the seller agreed to a repair credit to redo all of the asphalt, sidewalks, courtyard and roof.
This apartment complex is in the vicinity of a busy street. When we purchased the building the “courtyard” was a loading only zone in the back of the complex. By creating a courtyard with landscaping, barbecue area and seating for the residents, we created a quiet space the residents could enjoy. This became a marketing tool when listing the units for rent.
This property had poor drainage after heavy rains. The new asphalt and sidewalks assured water drained away from the property and ultimately out to the city street.
Garbage trucks used the driveway on the North side of the property. To prevent damage to typical asphalt driveways we poured concrete on that section of the drive. Heavy garbage trucks will destroy asphalt.
We installed a bright white Durolast roofing system which had several advantages. The new roofing system came with a 15 year warranty that was transferable to new owners when we flipped the property. This was a huge selling point. New roofs are a major expense.
Buildings with air conditioning can receive an efficiency rebate from the local energy company when they install a Durolast roofing system.

Cosmetic Apartment Building Renovations:

Not all renovations are costly. Plan for these simple improvements in your acquisition budget.

Tips:

This laundry room renovation was a simple one yet it had a significant impact on income. A friendly, clean environment ensured the residents actually used the facility.
Many apartment complexes come with a laundry lease in place where the owner splits the profits 50-50 with a professional laundry company. These leases run with the property, not the owner. Renegotiating the lease, or canceling before lease end, can lead to a large increase in income.

Great first impressions are a must. When a prospective resident enters your building you are looking for the “Wow” factor.
Wood floors, period carpeting (as in this 1950′s apartment building) are a relatively inexpensive way to attract the right demographic of renters and to lease units quickly.
In this property we also installed an entryway security system. It’s an inexpensive, telephone based door locking system used by residents to allow entry to visitors.
Interior hall properties (versus exterior walk ups) can be used as a marketing tool to attract residents. You are providing an extra layer of security to the community by providing an extra set of locking doors to apartment unit entry.

Knowing your particular “market sizzle”, will help you rent apartment units for top dollar and will help you make your renovation decisions easily.
This apartment building is located in a market where wood floors are the top priority to residents. This particular property had oak floors throughout, but the wood floors had been covered with carpeting for decades. Of course, we knew the wood was there before we bought the property. Refinishing the floors to their original beauty was our top priority when renovating and updating the apartment units.
A simple two tone paint job, new lighting, and the installation of ceiling fans was all that was required to create a beautiful living space for our residents.

I hope this post has inspired you to invest in apartment buildings of any size. If you’re interested in learning more, be sure to get advance notice of my upcoming book, Investing In Apartment Buildings: Forcing Appreciation On Multifamily Properties Using A Value Added Strategy! (Click the link.)