Question: are you upgrading vacant units and increasing the rents for the new incoming resident, or are you planning to offer upgrades to those renewing residents and charging a tiered price increase, depending on what option package the resident chooses? If you are going to be recouping some of these costs, then it's important to choose upgrades thoughtfully - based on both what the market rent will bear and what the residents want.
I do not like painted countertops. I think they are a waste of money because I have met few renters who will take care of them. Instead I would replace them. Just my two-cents worth on that topic.
1. I love DIGITAL thermostats. They are easy to operate and easy to read, no matter if you have seniors or not.
2. Install new SINGLE LEVER kitchen faucets. It is so much easier to operate single lever faucets for those with arthritis and they look stylish with the pull down sprayer.
3. Paint the kitchen and bath cabinets the same color. The hottest color is not white, although white is better than dated, plain dark ones. My favorite color is Benjamin Moore's "Gettysburg Gray" followed by a lighter shade "Stone Harbor." Try painting the bottom cabinets and the one in the bathroom this and the upper cabinets a white. Remove some doors and introduce open shelving. Replace the solid inner door with a glass insert in those two small ones over the stove.
4. Install new flooring in kitchens and baths. Floating floors are super nice, but if that isn't an option, install a great looking wood=look vinyl. (This is my number one improvement!)
5. Change out the rusted pop up assemblies (my number one Pet Peeve) in sinks and tubs.
6. Install pendant lights and recessed lighting and get rid of ugly lighting - also install under the cabinet task lighting in the kitchens. (This is huge benefit to residents who can now see better to prepare food and leave on at night. Very inexpensive.)
7. Frame flat bathroom mirrors and get rid of ugly medicine cabinets. Install cabinet pull out organizers instead.
8. Install closet organizers and shoe shelves in bedroom closets.
I have a lot of shoes and would appreciate this feature a lot.
Let us know what you decided!