Periodically replacing the carpet in your Troy rental is crucial, though few property owners like doing it. Have you contemplated removing the carpet from your rental property once and for all? More rental property owners are switching from wall-to-wall carpeting to hard-surface flooring. If this concept feels too radical, think about the reasons why fully removing the carpet is beneficial for landlords and tenants.
Carpets may harbor dirt and odor
One of the more challenging parts of having carpet in a rental property is keeping it clean. You might clean the carpets professionally between tenants, but they may not maintain them while living there. If tenants reside for several years, those carpets could be collecting dirt and grime for a long time.
Carpet fibers are notorious for holding onto unpleasant odors, especially when not cleaned frequently and thoroughly. Even if tenants clean the carpet, they probably prefer not to spend money on professionals or their own time on the task.
Alternatively, hard-surface flooring, including laminate or tile, is easy to keep clean. This type of flooring can be scrubbed to shine in minutes and as often as tenants like, ensuring no unpleasant stains or smells. Compared to carpet, hard-surface flooring is far more sanitary for children and individuals with respiratory or health issues.
Avoid soaked carpets in case of a flood
Another reason to forgo carpets is the difficulty of cleaning them after water leaks and floods. A small plumbing issue can result in major flooding in a rental house, and once carpets are wet, they can cause severe problems.
Wet carpets must be pulled up, and the subflooring, pad, and carpet should be dried immediately and thoroughly to prevent mold. If the carpet can’t be dried, it must be replaced. Failing to handle a flooding situation promptly and correctly can risk your residents’ health and lead to severe liability.
Most hard-surface flooring (excluding natural hardwood) is much easier to handle in a flood situation. With proper installation, most laminate and vinyl flooring types are highly water-resistant and can be dried efficiently. This means no need for expensive restoration services or floor replacement, just some focused clean-up.
Hardwood floors have a longer lifespan
Everyone knows that carpets should be replaced every five years. Some landlords attempt to prolong that to seven years or longer—often to their detriment. Most residents dislike living with old, worn, or stained carpets. If carpets are not replaced regularly, tenants might think about moving out.
Old carpet looks unappealing and is often hazardous. As carpet gets older, tacks can pop up and injure people walking on them. Cheap carpets, especially, don’t last more than a few years in rental properties.
In contrast, hard-surface flooring has a much longer lifespan. Though there are ways a tenant could damage a hard-surface floor, most tile or laminate flooring lasts ten to twenty years or more. Laminate flooring is priced similarly to carpet but doesn’t need to be replaced as often, making it a better rental choice.
Ditch the outdated look of carpets
Finally, wall-to-wall carpeting can give a rental property an outdated look. Newer homes typically minimize carpet, using it only in bedrooms or not at all.
To give your rental a contemporary look, consider replacing carpet with attractive laminate or tile flooring in the main areas. Unlike carpet, which tenants can’t change, hard-surface flooring allows tenants to add rugs or other décor items to personalize the space while keeping it clean and durable.
Modern laminate tile comes in many sizes, colors, and patterns, including wood-look tiles that can enhance your rental without the cost and hassle of natural hardwood.
Uncover the advantages of hard-surface flooring for rental properties. Get in touch with Real Property Management Metro Detroit at 248-808-6550 or online for tips on creating cost-effective, appealing interiors that tenants will love. Our property managers in Troy focus on lowering maintenance costs without sacrificing tenant appeal.
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