Download PDFOpen PDF in browserThe Price of Appearance: How Building Façade Maintenance Shapes Rental Markets10 pages•Published: June 2, 2026AbstractBuilding façade condition plays a critical role in shaping how buildings are perceived, maintained, and valued, yet its relationship to rental pricing remains understudied. While real estate firms cite façade improvements as a strategy to attract tenants and increase revenue, little empirical research has tested whether these upgrades impact rents charged. This question is particularly relevant in cities like Milwaukee, where local code requires regular façade inspections for larger buildings and rising rents have intensified affordability concerns. Poorly maintained façades also may contribute to urban decay, decrease surrounding property values, and pose safety risks. To explore whether façade maintenance affects rent, the research team surveyed building owners, property managers, and real estate professionals in Milwaukee. Respondents were asked a series of questions about façade maintenance and rental prices for their buildings. The survey results provide evidence that building owners and property managers perceive an association between façade maintenance and rent-setting decisions. The main contributions of this research are that it provides new evidence on the relationship between façade condition and rent determination, an area not well covered in existing literature, and highlights how the costs of maintaining façades may be passed through to tenants in the form of higher rents.Keyphrases: façade maintenance, façade ordinance law, rental pricing In: Wesley Collins, Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference, vol 7, pages 535-544.
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