Periodically replacing the carpet in your Gonzales rental is crucial, though few property owners like doing it. Have you ever considered eliminating the carpet from your rental home altogether? Rental property owners are increasingly opting for hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. If this idea appears too extreme, think about why completely removing the carpet makes sense for both landlords and tenants.
Carpets may harbor dirt and odor
Maintaining carpet cleanliness in a rental home is one of the most difficult tasks. Although you may clean the carpets professionally between tenants, they might not take care of them during their tenancy. Should your tenants stay for many years, the carpets may gather dirt and grime for an extended period.
Carpet fibers are known for clinging to bad odors, particularly if they aren’t cleaned regularly and adequately. Even if your tenant has the carpet cleaned, they likely prefer to avoid the cost or time involved.
Conversely, hard-surface floors like laminate or tile are easy to clean. This type of flooring can be scrubbed to shine in minutes and as often as tenants like, ensuring no unpleasant stains or smells. Hard-surface flooring is much more sanitary for young children and those with respiratory or other health issues than carpet.
Avoid soaked carpets in case of a flood
Another reason to abandon carpets is the hassle of cleaning them after water leaks and floods. Even a minor plumbing issue can cause major flooding in a rental, and wet carpets can become a significant problem.
Wet carpets must be pulled up, and the subflooring, pad, and carpet should be dried immediately and thoroughly to prevent mold. If the carpet cannot be dried, it needs to be replaced. If you don’t address a flooding situation promptly and correctly, you risk your residents’ health and severe liability.
Most hard-surface flooring, other than natural hardwood, is much easier to manage in a flood situation. If properly installed, most types of laminate and vinyl are highly water-resistant and can be dried efficiently. This means there will be no need for costly restoration services or replacing flooring, just a focused clean-up.
Hardwood floors have a longer lifespan
It’s well known that carpets need to be replaced every five years. Some landlords attempt to prolong that to seven years or longer—often to their detriment. Most residents don’t enjoy living on old, worn, or stained carpets. If the carpet is not replaced regularly, tenants may consider moving out.
Old carpet looks unappealing and is often hazardous. As carpets get older, tacks can emerge from underneath and injure people walking on them. Cheap carpet, especially, doesn’t last more than a few years in rental conditions.
In contrast, hard-surface flooring has a much longer lifespan. Though tenants could damage hard-surface floors, most tile or laminate flooring will last at least ten to twenty years. Laminate flooring costs about the same as carpet but doesn’t require frequent replacement, making it a better choice for rentals.
Ditch the outdated look of carpets
Ultimately, wall-to-wall carpeting can sometimes give a rental property an old-fashioned look. Modern homes usually limit carpeting, often to the bedrooms or not at all.
To update your rental’s appearance, consider installing attractive laminate or tile flooring instead of carpet in the main areas. Unlike carpet, which tenants cannot change, hard-surface flooring allows them to add rugs or other décor items to personalize the space while maintaining cleanliness and longevity.
Modern laminate tile comes in a wide range of sizes, colors, and patterns, including wood-look tiles that can upgrade your rental without the expense and hassle of natural hardwood.
Discover why hard-surface flooring is beneficial for rental properties. Contact Real Property Management Baton Rouge at 225-389-6860 or online for cost-saving tips on creating attractive, durable interiors tenants will love. Our property managers in Gonzales focus on lowering maintenance costs without sacrificing tenant appeal.
Originally Published on May 7, 2021
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