Would replacing my Fridge and Washer/Dryer in Jan/Feb 2024 be considered a capital improvement since I am getting ready to rent it?
Yes. However, if the item(s) cost less than $2,500 you have a choice. You can capitalize it and depreciate it (5 years for appliances I think), or you can just expense it if the asset was purchased new and placed into service with no personal use.
Now for something like a fridge/washer/dryer, you will of course, purchase/install those before you leave. If your use of them will be something reasonable (maybe less than 30 days?) before you depart and convert to a rental, I would treat the asset as "purchased new" so that I could just expense it and not have to deal with the potential issues that can be caused by capitalizing/depreciating it. Especially considering the fact you're going to be "out of area" (overseas) and will most likely be relying (I'm guessing) on a rental management company to manage the property for you.
To be safe, I would go ahead and purchase them, but not install them for use until it was as close to my move out date as reasonably possible, if not on the date of my actual move out. That way, there's no questioning they were purchased as a business asset for the rental since they were not installed and placed in service until I moved out.
