Rental Renovation Data Report · National Benchmarks · Palm Beach County Application · 2026
Renovated vs. Non-Renovated Rentals: What the National Data Says About Rent Premiums and Days-on-Market
Quick Answer
The data on renovated versus non-renovated rentals points in one consistent direction: targeted renovation generates measurable rent premiums and faster leasing — but only minor-scope, high-visibility improvements deliver strong ROI. National Cost vs. Value data shows a minor kitchen refresh returns 85.7% of cost while a major kitchen gut returns just 58%. The rental ROI formula is direct: a $1,200 annual rent increase on a $10,000 renovation is a 12% return. Renovated units also lease faster — well-presented units generate more inquiries and convert more showings. This report covers what the national data actually says and how Palm Beach County landlords should apply it.
By Jean Taveras, CEO & Broker-Owner, Atlis Property Management · Updated June 2026
A Note on Data Honesty
There is no published, verified dataset measuring renovated-versus-non-renovated rental performance specific to Palm Beach County. The figures in this report are national benchmarks from the cited sources, applied to local decision-making. Atlis operational figures (such as the 21-day average days-to-lease) are clearly identified as Atlis internal data. We do not publish fabricated local statistics — and you should be skeptical of any property manager who does.
Every landlord considering a renovation asks the same question: will it actually pay off? The honest answer requires separating two things that often get conflated — renovation ROI for resale (which the widely-cited Cost vs. Value Report measures) and renovation ROI for rental income (which is a different calculation). This report covers both, draws on the most current national data available, and explains how Palm Beach County landlords should apply national figures to local decisions.
Atlis coordinates renovations across Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the full South Florida service area — and we make every renovation recommendation based on the rent premium and vacancy reduction the data supports, not on aesthetics.
What the National Cost vs. Value Data Shows
The Remodeling Magazine / Zonda Cost vs. Value Report is the most authoritative national source on renovation ROI, surveying real estate professionals annually for 23 years. The 2025/2026 report’s key findings, applied to rental decision-making:
| Project | National Avg Cost | Resale ROI | Rental Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufactured stone veneer | ~$11,000 | 98.7% | Exterior curb appeal — drives showing conversion |
| Garage door replacement | ~$4,500 | 93.8% | High-visibility, low-cost — strong for SFH rentals |
| HVAC replacement | ~$11,000 | 90.0% | Essential system — prevents vacancy, tenant retention |
| Minor kitchen refresh | ~$26,790 | 85.7% | Best rental kitchen ROI — refresh, don't gut |
| Basement remodel | ~$57,000 | 71% | Adds livable space — limited in South FL (few basements) |
| Major kitchen remodel | ~$79,982 | 58% | The over-renovation trap — avoid for rentals |
Source: 2025/2026 Remodeling Magazine / Zonda Cost vs. Value Report (national averages). Resale ROI differs from rental income ROI; see below. Verify current costs against contractor quotes for your specific Palm Beach County property.
Resale ROI vs. Rental Income ROI: A Critical Distinction
The Cost vs. Value Report measures resale ROI — how much of a renovation’s cost is recovered in increased home value at sale. For rental property owners, the more relevant calculation is rental income ROI: how much additional rent the renovation generates relative to its cost. The formula, per Buildium’s 2026 industry analysis, is straightforward: ROI = (annual rent increase ÷ renovation cost) × 100. A $1,200 annual rent increase (i.e. $100/month) on a $10,000 renovation is a 12% rental ROI — a strong return that also builds resale value on top.
The two ROI measures usually point the same direction — minor-scope, high-visibility improvements win on both — but the rental calculation is what matters for a buy-and-hold landlord. A renovation that adds $100/month in rent pays for itself in rent alone over time, while simultaneously improving the property’s eventual resale value and reducing vacancy and turnover. That triple benefit is why targeted rental renovations are among the highest-return moves available to a Palm Beach County landlord.
The Days-on-Market Effect
Beyond rent premiums, renovated units lease faster — and faster leasing is pure profit because every avoided day of vacancy is rent earned. National property management data consistently shows that units in updated, show-ready condition generate more qualified inquiries and convert more showings to applications than units with dated finishes or visible deferred maintenance. Atlis’s own portfolio data reflects this directly: properly prepared units average 21 days from listing to signed lease, while the under-prepared self-managed units that come to Atlis after a failed listing average 38 to 52 days.
On a $3,800/month Palm Beach County rental, the difference between 21 days and 45 days of vacancy is $3,040 in lost rent — on a single turnover. A renovation that moves a unit from the “dated, slow to lease” category to the “updated, fast to lease” category captures that $3,040 every turnover, on top of the monthly rent premium. The days-on-market effect is the most underweighted variable in renovation ROI analysis.
“Owners focus on the rent premium and forget the vacancy math. A renovation that helps a unit lease in 21 days instead of 45 just earned three weeks of rent that would otherwise have been lost — every single turnover, for the life of the property. That is real, recurring ROI that never shows up in a resale calculator.”
— Jean Taveras, CEO & Broker-Owner, Atlis Property Management · FL Broker CQ1071712
How the Atlis 10% Project Coordination Fee Works
Atlis charges a project coordination fee of 10% of the total project cost on any make-ready or renovation over $1,000. The $1,000 is simply the threshold that triggers the fee — projects under $1,000 are still coordinated, with no coordination fee. On a $4,500 make-ready, the fee is 10% of the full $4,500 — a $450 project coordination fee. This covers scope development, vendor sourcing and coordination, timeline coordination, administrative progress check-ins, and a final walkthrough. Combined with Atlis’s below-retail preferred vendor pricing, the net cost to the owner is frequently lower than self-managing the same renovation at retail rates.
Atlis applies national renovation data to your specific Palm Beach County property.
We model the achievable rent premium and vacancy reduction for each proposed improvement before recommending a budget. Coordinated at 10% of total project cost on projects over $1,000, with below-retail vendor pricing. FL Broker CQ1071712 · BBB Accredited.
Get a Data-Driven Renovation Analysis →Get a Free Renovation Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
Do renovated rental properties rent for more than non-renovated ones?
Yes, when the renovation closes a genuine gap to the competing market inventory. National renovation data shows targeted improvements generate measurable rent premiums — the achievable premium depends on the property’s starting condition and its submarket. The ROI formula is straightforward: a $1,200 annual rent increase on a $10,000 renovation is a 12% return. The strongest premiums come from minor-scope, high-visibility improvements (flooring, lighting, fixtures, kitchen and bath refreshes) rather than full gut renovations.
Do renovated rentals lease faster than non-renovated ones?
National property management data consistently shows that units in show-ready, updated condition lease faster than units with visible deferred maintenance or dated finishes. A well-presented unit generates more qualified inquiries and converts more showings to applications. The Atlis portfolio averages 21 days from listing to signed lease for properly prepared units, against 38 to 52 days for the under-prepared self-managed units that come to Atlis after a failed listing.
What is the ROI on a rental property renovation?
Rental renovation ROI is calculated as the annual rent increase divided by the renovation cost. A $1,200 annual rent increase (e.g. $100/month) on a $10,000 renovation is a 12% ROI. The highest-ROI rental renovations are minor-scope improvements: a minor kitchen refresh returns approximately 85.7% of cost at resale per Cost vs. Value data, while LED lighting and flooring upgrades typically pay back fastest in rental income. Major gut renovations return far less — around 58% for a major kitchen remodel.
How does Atlis use renovation data to advise Palm Beach County landlords?
Atlis combines national renovation ROI benchmarks with property-specific submarket rent analysis. For each property, Atlis identifies the gap between current condition and competing inventory, models the achievable rent premium from specific improvements, and recommends only the renovations where the rent premium and vacancy reduction justify the cost. The project is then coordinated at a 10% fee on total project cost for projects over $1,000 using below-retail vendor pricing. Contact 561.473.3664.
How to Read National Renovation Data for Your Specific Property
National benchmarks like the Cost vs. Value Report are genuinely useful, but only if you translate them correctly to a single rental property in a single Palm Beach County submarket. The reports measure national averages across thousands of markets with wildly different labor costs, material prices, and buyer preferences. A 85.7% national ROI on a minor kitchen refresh does not mean your Boynton Beach duplex will see exactly 85.7% — it means the direction is strong and the relative ranking (minor refresh beats major gut) holds almost everywhere. Use national data for direction and ranking; use local rent comps for the actual dollars.
The Three Adjustments That Localize National Data
First, adjust for the rental-versus-resale distinction. The Cost vs. Value Report measures resale value recovered, not rental income generated. For a buy-and-hold landlord, the relevant figure is the monthly rent premium — a different and often more favorable calculation, because a renovation that adds $100/month in rent pays for itself in rent over time and builds resale value. Second, adjust for South Florida-specific factors: humidity makes water-resistant materials like LVP more valuable here than the national average suggests, and the AC-heavy climate makes energy-efficient lighting and systems a stronger selling point. Third, adjust for your submarket tier — premium northern Palm Beach County units support finishes that workforce-tier units do not.
When all three adjustments are applied, national data becomes a reliable planning tool rather than a misleading one. The mistake owners make is taking a national ROI percentage literally for their specific unit, then being disappointed when local reality differs. Atlis applies these adjustments as standard practice — pairing national benchmark direction with live local rent comps so the renovation recommendation reflects what your specific property in your specific submarket can actually achieve.
Localizing National Renovation Data — The 3 Adjustments
- Rental vs. resale: Convert resale-ROI benchmarks to monthly rent premium — the number that matters for a hold
- South Florida factors: Weight water-resistant materials and energy efficiency higher than national averages suggest
- Submarket tier: Match finish level to what your specific submarket’s tenant profile pays a premium for
Can I trust national renovation ROI data for my Palm Beach County rental?
National data like the Cost vs. Value Report is reliable for direction and ranking — minor-scope improvements beating major gut renovations holds almost everywhere. But the specific ROI percentages are national averages that must be localized: convert resale-ROI figures to monthly rent premiums, weight water-resistant and energy-efficient upgrades higher for South Florida’s climate, and match finishes to your submarket tier. Atlis pairs national benchmarks with live local rent comps for property-specific guidance.
About the Author — E-E-A-T Disclosure
Jean Taveras — CEO & Broker-Owner, Atlis Property Management LLC
3801 PGA Blvd., Ste. 600, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 · 561.473.3664 · info@atlispm.com
FL Real Estate Broker License CQ1071712 — myfloridalicense.com · BBB Accredited through April 2027
Renovation ROI data sourced from: 2025/2026 Remodeling Magazine / Zonda Cost vs. Value Report (national averages); Buildium 2026 State of the Property Management Industry Report; NAR/NARI 2025 Remodeling Impact Report; Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. All renovation ROI figures are national benchmarks and vary by local market and execution. Atlis days-to-lease figures are Atlis internal portfolio data.
For informational purposes only. Renovation ROI figures cited are national benchmarks from the sources listed and will vary by local market, property condition, and execution. Not financial advice. Consult Atlis for a property-specific renovation analysis.
Make Renovation Decisions on Data, Not Guesswork
Atlis combines national renovation benchmarks with property-specific submarket rent analysis to recommend only the improvements where the numbers work. Then we coordinate the project end to end.
Get a Data-Driven Renovation Analysis →Get a Free Renovation Consultation →Call — 561.473.3664 →
info@atlispm.com · 3801 PGA Blvd., Ste. 600, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 · FL Broker CQ1071712 · BBB Accredited
