3. Install tile floors and walls

Installing tile floors in rental unit bathrooms is a great way to give them a “luxury” finish that’s also cost-effective, says Todd Saunders, CEO of FlooringStores, a site that matches property owners with flooring and contractors.  

“Tile is a durable, waterproof finish that will last for decades to come and protect your floors and walls from water damage,” Saunders says. “It’s also a material that’s easy to buy in bulk and keep in storage for multiple units.” 

4. Improve your water flow

“A bathroom with good water pressure, a nice shower head and a clear, reliable drain is one that’s going to require fewer service calls,” says Leonard Ang, CEO of iPropertyManagement Leasing, an online resource hub for property owners.  

Good water flow is also attractive to renters, he says. But it’s not a feature they can see just by looking at the bathroom. Ang recommends encouraging prospective renters to test out the shower and sink when touring the unit.  

5. Reglaze the bathtub

Has your unit’s cast-iron bathtub seen better days? Consider reglazing it rather than buying a brand-new tub, says Shad Elia, CEO of real estate investment company New England Home Buyers. 

 “This can run from $500 to $800 [per tub], but it’s far less expensive than replacing the bathtub entirely,” Elia says. “To make the bathtub appear brand-new, use a bright white finish.” 

6. Replace the hardware

Alyssa Carpenter, who owns three rental properties in the Round Rock, Texas, area and manages 10 additional units throughout Texas, recently renovated a bathroom in an Austin duplex. She made sure all the hardware — including doorknobs, shower hardware and towel and toilet paper rods — matched the rest of the unit. Then, she installed new granite countertops that matched the hardware, painted the cabinets with the same color scheme and installed a new toilet. 

“While these renovations are not truly timeless, they modernized the unit for under $1,000,” Carpenter says.