Although replacing the carpet in your Dr. Phillips rental home is considered a necessary expense, few rental property owners enjoy it. Have you considered getting rid of the carpet in your rental altogether? Hard-surface flooring is now more favorable for rental property owners compared to wall-to-wall carpeting. If this seems very unusual, here are some reasons why opting out of carpet makes a lot of sense for Dr. Phillips rental property owners and their tenants.
Reason #1: Cleanliness
One of the downsides of having a carpet in a rental home is the difficulty of keeping it clean. While you may have the carpets professionally cleaned between each tenant, the tenants may not do it themselves. Long-term tenants may also mean those carpets have a long-term accumulation of dirt and grime. Carpet fibers are known to hold onto bad smells especially if the carpet is not cleaned properly and regularly. Even if your tenants do have the carpet cleaned, they would still appreciate it if they did not have to spend for someone to do it or spend a lot of time doing it themselves.
Hard-surface flooring, like laminate or tile, is easy to clean. A few minutes of scrubbing can make these types of flooring shine and can encourage tenants to keep it free from stains or smells. Unlike carpet, hard-surface flooring is also far more sanitary for young children and individuals with respiratory or other health issues.
Reason #2: Flooding
Another practical reason to give up carpet is the hassle of cleaning up carpets that have been soaked due to water leaks and floods. Plumbing issues can lead to major flooding inside a rental house, and wet carpets quickly become a serious problem. Soaked carpets have to be pulled up, and the sub-flooring, pad, and carpeting dried immediately and thoroughly to avoid any mold growth. If drying the carpet isn’t possible, it will need to be replaced. If a flooding situation isn’t dealt with promptly and effectively, you could endanger your residents’ health and set yourself up for serious liability.
Most hard-surface flooring (other than real hardwood) is easier to deal with in flooding situations. Properly installed laminate and vinyl are water-resistant and are relatively easy to dry out. This means you no longer have to spend on expensive restoration or flooring replacement.
Reason #3: Longevity
Carpets are usually replaced every five years. But some landlords try to save and stretch that out to seven years or longer not realizing this can be disadvantageous. Residents don’t usually like living on top of stained carpets — more so on old, threadbare ones. Some will leave a rental if the carpet isn’t replaced as often as they would like. The old carpeting can also become dangerous. Carpet tack can start to emerge from underneath aged carpets and can cause injury. Cheap carpets don’t last long under rental property conditions.
Hard-surface flooring has more longevity. Hard-surface floors are more likely to withstand tenants’ potential damage, and most tile or laminate flooring lasts for ten to twenty years. At nearly the same cost as carpet, laminate flooring does not need frequent replacement and could be a far better choice for rental properties.
Reason #4: Modern Look
Finally, wall-to-wall carpeting can sometimes make a rental property’s interior look outdated. Newer homes often keep carpet to a minimum. Some have it in the bedroom, and some have none at all. Using attractive laminate flooring instead of carpet in the main living areas can give your rental a more modern look. Unlike carpet, which a tenant can’t change, hard-surface flooring lets tenants add rugs or decor items without compromising cleanliness or longevity. Modern laminate tiles have a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns, including wood-look tiles that instantly upgrade your rental minus the hassle and cost of using real hardwood.
With all these benefits of hard-surface flooring, you can easily see why some rental property owners are leaving carpet behind for good. Would you like more information about how to design beautiful, durable rental home interiors that tenants will love while saving you money? Give Real Property Management South Orlando a call at 407-982-2000 Our team of Dr. Phillips property managers works with rental property owners like you to lower your maintenance and repairs costs without making your rental any less appealing for tenants.
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