Hearth & Host

Renovations

Real before-and-afters from our Austin apartment flips — budget renovations, what paid off, what we'd never do again, and how we renovate rentals without rewiring or gutting.

Renovations · June 8, 2026

Our First Austin Apartment Flip: The Full Before & After

Our first flip was a dated little Austin one-bed. Here's the honest before-and-after, the budget, and the changes that actually moved the needle.

Renovations · June 1, 2026

Small Apartment Renovation on a Rental Budget

You don't need a big budget to transform a small apartment. Here's the low-cost, high-impact renovation playbook we use on every flip.

Renovations · May 25, 2026

The Studio Apartment We Turned Into a Top Earner

Our smallest unit is our best earner. Here's how we turned a single-room studio into a booked-out short-term rental.

Renovations · May 18, 2026

Renovating a Dated '90s Condo for Short-Term Rental

Honey-oak trim, builder brass, and beige tile — the '90s condo special. Here's how we modernized one into a booked-out rental.

Renovations · May 11, 2026

The Kitchen Refresh That Paid for Itself

We never replace a rental kitchen — we refresh it. Here's the under-$1,500 kitchen refresh that pays for itself in bookings.

Renovations · May 4, 2026

A Bathroom Made Over Without Touching the Plumbing

You can transform a rental bathroom in a weekend without a plumber. Here's the no-plumbing bathroom makeover we use on every flip.

Renovations · April 27, 2026

Rental-Friendly Lighting: How to Light a Rental Without Rewiring

The single best upgrade for any rental is warm lighting — and you can add it all without an electrician. Here's the no-rewiring playbook.

Renovations · April 20, 2026

Flooring That Survives Guests

Rental floors take a beating. Here's the durable, photogenic flooring we use so a flip survives hundreds of guests.

Renovations · April 13, 2026

Paint Colors That Photograph Well in a Rental

Paint is the cheapest change you can make, and the wrong colour kills a listing photo. Here are the colours that photograph well.

Renovations · April 6, 2026

The Murphy Bed That Doubled a Studio's Nightly Rate

One Murphy bed turned our tiniest studio into a flexible, higher-earning rental. Here's why it worked and how we lit it.

Renovations · March 30, 2026

What We'd Never Renovate Again

Every flip taught us something the hard way. Here are the renovation choices we'd never make again in a rental.