Swapping out the carpet in your Provo rental home every few years is important, yet most landlords dislike the task. Have you ever thought about getting rid of the carpet in your rental permanently? More landlords are now choosing hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting in their rental properties. If this notion seems too radical, reflect on some reasons why eliminating the carpet can benefit landlords and tenants.
Carpets may harbor dirt and odor
One of the toughest aspects of having carpet in a rental home is maintaining its cleanliness. Even if you have the carpets professionally cleaned between tenants, they might not keep them up during their occupancy. If tenants remain for several years or more, the carpets could accumulate dirt and grime over time.
Carpet fibers are well known for trapping bad odors, particularly when not cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Even when tenants clean the carpet, they probably want to avoid the expense of hiring someone or the time to do it themselves.
On the contrary, hard-surface flooring like laminate or tile is easy to clean. Such flooring can be scrubbed to shine in minutes and as often as tenants desire, preventing unpleasant stains or odors. 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 carpeting should be thoroughly dried to prevent mold growth. If the carpet can’t 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, 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 are not fond of living with old, worn, or stained carpets. If the carpet isn’t regularly replaced, they might consider leaving.
Old carpets are unsightly and often pose a danger. 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.
Hard-surface flooring, on the other hand, is much more durable. While a tenant can damage a hard-surface floor, most tile or laminate floors 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
In the end, wall-to-wall carpeting can make a rental property look outdated. Newer homes usually have minimal carpet, often just in bedrooms or not at all.
To modernize your rental, think about installing attractive laminate or tile flooring in the main living areas instead of carpet. 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 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.
Learn about the benefits of hard-surface flooring for rental properties. Contact Real Property Management Utah County at 801-224-0033 or online for cost-saving tips on creating appealing, long-lasting interiors that tenants will love. Our property managers in Provo specialize in cutting maintenance costs without sacrificing tenant appeal.
Originally Published on May 7, 2021
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