Successfully renting a home typically comes down to having the best functions– ones that make the space functional, enticing, and easy for today’s tenants to say yes to.
Renting out a home successfully isn’t just about setting the ideal rate. Today’s renters are looking for comfort, convenience and expense savings– and homes that provide on those top priorities tend to rent faster and experience fewer jobs.
In this Redfin short article, we break down which features typically improve rentability and which upgrades deserve focusing on based on real market insights, and how location tends to play a larger role than you might think.
In this post:
Features that attract tenants and help reduce job
Upgrades with strong roi
How area and area matter
Typical mistakes investors make– and what to focus on rather
How to pick functions based on your target occupant
Features that make a home simpler to lease: last takeaways
Functions that attract renters and help in reducing job
As energy costs rise, occupants are paying closer attention to monthly expenses beyond rent. According to Mashvisor, energy performance is rapidly ending up being an expectation instead of a benefit.
Sylvia Shalhout, Realty Insights and Material Lead at Mashvisor, explains that energy performance is no longer a bonus offer– it’s ending up being an expectation among occupants. “Increasing utility costs continue to be a discomfort for the typical U.S. renter. Energy-efficient rental functions that help lower these expenses like LED lighting, excellent insulation, and smart thermostats are ending up being a baseline for renters.”
These features not just attract cost-conscious occupants but also help properties stand apart in competitive rental markets. Mashvisor adds that these upgrades can “considerably improve appeal and reduce time on market.”
Other high-impact amenities can also enhance occupancy and tenant complete satisfaction. Shalhout notes: “Based upon Mashvisor’s analysis of active short-term rental listings over the previous 12 months, properties with pools were nearly 8% more likely to reach 70%+ occupancy compared to the overall market. Modern convenience features such as EV battery chargers and self check-in likewise revealed a positive connection with more powerful reservation performance, suggesting that both experiential features and ease of access contribute in rental need.”
High-impact upgrades and features that tend to deliver strong returns:
1. LED lighting that reduces energy usage and maintenance costs.
2. Quality insulation that enhances convenience and lowers heating and cooling costs.
3. Smart thermostats that enable renters to manage energy utilize more effectively.
4. Modern, well-maintained systems that signal a move-in-ready home.
5. Pools, EV chargers, and self check-in systems to enhance convenience and benefit for renters.
| Amenity | % of High-Occupancy Listings | % of All Listings | Performance Lift | Avg Annual Income (High Occ Listings) |
| Swimming pool | 42.11% | 39.04% | +7.9% | $5,927 |
| EV Battery charger | 90.5% | 86.34% | +4.8% | $4,614 |
| Self check-in | 88.17% | 85.55% | +3.1% | $4,592 |
While not every market demands these features, they can make a measurable difference depending upon your area and occupant profile.
Upgrades with strong return on investment
When it concerns improving rentability, impressions matter. Mashvisor highlights that outside upgrades are often a few of the most effective financial investments property owners can make due to the fact that they straight affect whether possible tenants schedule a showing.