Investing in rental property is about more than collecting monthly rent checks. In Detroit’s rental market, competition is strong, and tenants have high expectations. The upgrades you choose can make the difference between long vacancies and reliable cash flow, between mediocre returns and strong rental ROI.

But here’s the challenge: not every upgrade adds real value. Some improvements might look nice but fail to attract higher-paying tenants or justify increased rent. Others may drain your maintenance budget without providing a measurable return. To help you make informed decisions, let’s break down the upgrades that actually boost rental value, reduce turnover, and keep your Detroit property competitive.

People who succeed with multi-family real estate agree with Sarah Beeny, who said, “There will always be people who make money because people always want homes.” Often, someone who adds multi-family real estate to their property investment portfolio is providing a solution to people who, as Ms. Beeny puts it, simply “want homes.”

It can be fulfilling to provide a cozy place to live, but there are challenges specific to multi-family units that may come up. These could include issues with the paperwork, the value of the home, and the process of maintaining a healthy ROI. If you take the right steps, however, providing for people who “want homes” can be an enjoyable—and profitable—experience.

If there’s one thing real estate investment has in common with the hotel industry, it’s the following truth: the most expensive room—or property—is an empty one.

A vacancy is a vacuum that sucks money from your property investment portfolio. Successfully beating this beast can help put your rental business on cruise control. Here are some of the best tips available for vanishing vacancy and maximizing your occupancy rate.