I dislike the idea of having a one-time cost for an ever-lasting upgrade. With NH taking 35 occupations products daily, even if you're selling at 5k apiece there's 175k you can farm daily. With an alt, you can farm 1 mil in 3 days. Crafters doing overseer missions get similarly ridiculous amounts of dappers, from what I hear.
Now, rental space is a nice idea. Personally I'd make it a separate business, and make it clear that if the homin doesn't keep paying his weekly/monthly rent, his space is going to be emptied asap (or his stuff placed on the resale market if mint, under an NPC name, to add insult to injury).
As others have noted, the rental prices could/should vary with your local fame. Maybe have some business open up in the higher level areas, and give the player a choice to either cough up the dapper for a nice town rent, or risk being eaten alive while they go to retrieve their stuff (rental there would be cheaper, obviously).
Now, rental space is a nice idea. Personally I'd make it a separate business, and make it clear that if the homin doesn't keep paying his weekly/monthly rent, his space is going to be emptied asap (or his stuff placed on the resale market if mint, under an NPC name, to add insult to injury).
As others have noted, the rental prices could/should vary with your local fame. Maybe have some business open up in the higher level areas, and give the player a choice to either cough up the dapper for a nice town rent, or risk being eaten alive while they go to retrieve their stuff (rental there would be cheaper, obviously).
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