Investment Property Renovations

 Should You Remove Popcorn Ceilings from Your Investment Properties?

 

 

Do Popcorn Ceilings Hurt Investment Properties?

When you buy an investment home, every detail matters. A few renovations can go a long way toward making the home more profitable to rent or resell. You can often identify the most important changes, like replacing a damaged floor and flaking fixtures. But what if the house has a popcorn ceiling.

Popcorn ceilings were popular from the 70s to the 90s but have since fallen out of favor. While they to reduce a few echoes in the house, they are also dusty and give the house a faintly "rumpled" look from the top-down. The question is: Will that popcorn ceiling hurt your profits and is it worth taking down?

There's been some serious debate on the subject, so let's take a serious look to determine the most profitable path.

 

Why Buyers Dislike Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings have become unpopular. They do not make a home look modern or cozy. They are one of those design trends that is no longer desirable and even the original purpose has been reconsidered. Home buyers and renters dislike popcorn ceilings for three important reasons:

Outdated and Unstylish

First, popcorn ceilings are outdated and not-at-all stylish. They were never attractive, but they were once considered a practical way to soften indoor sounds. Now, they are considered a rumpled and unstylish look that offers negative value. 

Clean lines and smooth ceilings are far more in vogue if you're looking to create the most desirable living space for investors or renters.

Difficult to Clean

Popcorn ceilings are both bumpy and delicate. They collect dust and drop ceiling-bits when you try to clean them. People who are dust-conscious have a much stronger dislike for popcorn ceilings and they can passively increase the amount of dust in a home.

Lurking Asbestos Risk

Lastly, popcorn ceilings built before the mid-80s have some risk of containing asbestos. If the ceiling is damaged (or when you try to remove the popcorn) a whole new hazard is introduced. People worried about asbestos may avoid popcorn ceilings on principle.

• Note: Be careful DIY removing a popcorn ceiling IF the home was built/last renovated before the mid-80s. Get asbestos testing and/or wear the right protective gear if there is any risk that asbestos might be in the popcorn.

 

Will Buyers or Renters Refuse a Popcorn Ceiling?

Some buyers and renters will flatly refuse to consider a home with popcorn ceilings. While most people will overlook a minor fashion faux-pas, and many renters in the mid- to low-tier range are accustomed to older styles. However, high-end renters, investors, and those who are conscious of cleaning and asbestos concerns may simply walk away from any property that has popcorn ceilings.

 

Is It Worth Removing the Popcorn Ceiling?

It depends on your housing market and selling plans whether removing, refinishing, and repainting the popcorn ceiling is a good investment.

Upscale Market: Yes

If you can up-scale the home to a higher income market for renting or selling, and removing the popcorn ceiling is part of that project, then yes. It is probably worth the time and expense of scraping off the popcorn and refinishing.

Quick Flip: Probably Not

If you are planning to quickly flip the home as an affordable rental home or starter home, then don't worry about the popcorn ceiling. The difference is not a reflection on your renters/buyers, but lies in the pickiness of higher-end occupants. Starter home buyers often expect to plan their own DIY improvements and low-income renters know that they can get a better deal on older architectural styles.

DIY Experience: Yes

If you personally don't like popcorn ceilings and want the DIY experience of stripping, refinishing, and repainting to make the space more elegant, then by all means build your skills with this harmless and beneficial project. Just date the building and/or get asbestos testing before you start scraping.

 

Renting Your Investment Properties

After making all the right calculations and improvements, your investment property is ready to make money. If you plan to rent the home to local tenants or vacation rental guests, Leaf Management can help you streamline your investment home's profitability. We can manage your property marketing and tenant screening and support your tenants during their residence while you focus on your real estate strategy. Contact us today to learn more.