Periodically replacing the carpet in your Gainesville rental is crucial, though few property owners like doing it. Have you ever considered eliminating the carpet from your rental home altogether? More landlords are now choosing hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting in their rental properties. If this idea sounds too extreme, here are some reasons why removing the carpet entirely benefits landlords and tenants.
Carpets may harbor dirt and odor
Keeping carpet clean in a rental home is one of the more challenging aspects. Despite professional cleaning between tenants, they may not maintain the carpets themselves during their stay. When tenants stay for several years, those carpets might accumulate dirt and grime for years.
Carpet fibers are well known for trapping bad odors, particularly when not cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Even if the tenant cleans the carpet, they probably prefer to avoid the cost of hiring help or spending their own time.
In contrast, hard-surface flooring such as laminate or tile is simple to clean. These floors can be scrubbed to shine in a few minutes and as often as tenants wish, ensuring no unpleasant stains or smells. Unlike carpet, hard-surface flooring is significantly more sanitary for children and people with respiratory or health issues.
Avoid soaked carpets in case of a flood
Another reason to get rid of carpets is the trouble of cleaning them after water leaks and floods. Even a minor plumbing issue can cause major flooding, and wet carpets can become a significant problem in a rental house.
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 has 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, aside from natural hardwood, is much easier to deal with in a flood. Properly installed laminate and vinyl are very water-resistant and can be dried out efficiently. This means expensive restoration services or flooring replacement won’t be needed, just some focused clean-up.
Hardwood floors have a longer lifespan
It’s no surprise that carpets have to be replaced every five years. Some landlords attempt to prolong that to seven years or longer—often to their detriment. Most tenants are not fond of living with old, worn, or stained carpets. If the carpet isn’t regularly replaced, they might consider leaving.
Old carpets look unattractive and can be dangerous. As carpet ages, tacks can come up from underneath and hurt people walking on them. Cheap carpeting, particularly, doesn’t last more than a few years in rental properties.
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 is about the same cost as carpet but requires less 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. Newer homes often limit carpet to bedrooms or avoid it entirely.
For a modern look, consider replacing the carpet in the main living areas with attractive laminate or tile flooring. Unlike carpet, which tenants can’t change, hard-surface flooring allows tenants to add rugs or décor to customize the space while maintaining cleanliness and durability.
Modern laminate tile is available in various sizes, colors, and patterns, including wood-look tiles that can upgrade your rental without the cost and hassle of natural hardwood.
Explore the benefits of using hard-surface flooring in rental properties. Reach out to Real Property Management Diversified at 352-854-2221 or online for cost-saving tips on creating attractive, durable interiors that tenants will love. Our property managers in Gainesville are experts in reducing maintenance costs without sacrificing tenant appeal.
Originally Published on May 7, 2021
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