Renting and Renovating, All For The Cost Of Rent

Anyone who has been through the rental-search process has seen the worn down apartments, which may have met the desired location and price point, but essentially did not make the cut. The scratched walls, stained floors, and water stains are hard to settle for and therefore the search continues. However, for one San Franciscan tenant, the potential of the apartment inspired a clever proposal that gave him a renovated apartment without the extra costs.

NYTimes.com recently published this story detailing renovations made to the San Francisco apartment by the tenant, Grant K. Gibson, in exchange for free rent for two months. With the current economic pressure on property owners (and their budgets) preventing them from paying for the work themselves, the timing could not be better for this type exchange.

The key is to look beyond the ugly marks left behind by previous tenants and find the elements of the apartment that originally made it valuable. In other words, search for the potential. Gibson set aside the vision of ugly lavender and green walls that he first saw and developed an environment that accommodated his own style.Rent is a cost that will be spent no matter what apartment a renter chooses. With a little negotiating, that same amount can be spent and the apartment can cater to their taste. Like Gibson, renters who are willing to put in the effort will be left with a place they can truly call their own.

For the full story on how Gibson turned a beat-down apartment into a cozy home, please visit here.