Changing the carpet in your Alpharetta rental home regularly is necessary, but most property owners don’t enjoy it. Have you thought about permanently removing the carpet from your rental instead? Increasingly, rental property owners are opting for hard-surface flooring over wall-to-wall carpeting. 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
One of the more challenging parts of having carpet in a rental property is keeping it clean. Despite professional cleaning between tenants, they may not maintain the carpets themselves during their stay. If tenants remain for several years or more, the carpets could accumulate dirt and grime over time.
Carpet fibers are notorious for holding onto unpleasant odors, especially when not cleaned frequently and thoroughly. Even if tenants clean the carpet, they likely avoid the cost of hiring someone or the time required to do it themselves.
In contrast, hard-surface flooring such as laminate or tile is simple to clean. This flooring can be scrubbed to shine in minutes and as frequently as tenants wish to avoid 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 small plumbing issue can lead to severe flooding in a rental, and wet carpets can become a big problem.
Wet carpets need to be pulled up, and the subflooring, pad, and carpeting must be dried immediately to prevent dangerous mold growth. 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, except for natural hardwood, is much easier to manage in a flooding situation. Properly installed laminate and vinyl are very water-resistant and can be dried out efficiently. This eliminates the need for costly restoration services or flooring replacement, just a thorough clean-up.
Hardwood floors have a longer lifespan
It’s no surprise that carpets have to be replaced every five years. Some landlords try to extend that to seven years or more—usually to their own disadvantage. Most tenants don’t like living on old, worn, or stained carpets. If carpets aren’t regularly replaced, tenants might consider moving out.
Old carpets are unsightly and often pose a danger. As carpets age, tacks can protrude and injure those walking on them. Cheap carpets, especially, don’t last more than a few years in rental properties.
Hard-surface flooring, in contrast, has a much longer lifespan. While a tenant can damage a hard-surface floor, most tile or laminate flooring can last ten to twenty years or longer. Laminate flooring costs roughly the same as carpet but doesn’t need to be replaced as often, making it a better choice for rentals.
Ditch the outdated look of carpets
In the end, wall-to-wall carpeting can make a rental property look outdated. Newer homes typically minimize carpet, using it only in bedrooms or not at all.
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 lets tenants add rugs or décor items to customize the space without compromising cleanliness or durability.
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.
Explore the advantages of hard-surface flooring for rental properties. Reach out to Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta at 678-504-8580 or online for cost-saving tips on creating attractive, durable interiors that tenants will love. Our property managers in Alpharetta specialize in minimizing maintenance costs without compromising tenant appeal.
Originally Published on May 7, 2021
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