Although replacing the carpet in your Capitol Hill rental home is considered a necessary expense, few rental property owners enjoy it. Alternatively, you might want to consider getting rid of the carpet in your rental for good. More rental owners are foregoing wall-to-wall carpeting for hard-surface flooring in their rentals instead. Here are some reasons why getting rid of carpet makes a lot of sense for Capitol Hill rental property owners and their tenants.
Reason #1: Cleanliness
One challenge that comes with having a carpet in a rental home is keeping it clean. It is easy to have carpets professionally cleaned between tenants, but the tenants may not do it themselves. If you have tenants who stay for several years, those carpets could be accumulating dirt for years. Carpet fibers easily hold onto bad smells especially if the carpet does not get a proper and regular cleaning. And if your tenant does have the carpet cleaned, they probably don’t enjoy the extra cost of paying someone to do it or the time they have to put in if they do it by themselves.
Hard-surface flooring, like laminate or tile, is easy to clean. Scrubbing these types of flooring clean can take only a few minutes and the tenants can do it as often as they want to prevent stains or smells. Unlike carpet, hard-surface flooring is also far more sanitary for young children and individuals with respiratory or other health issues.
Reason #2: Flooding
Another reason to give up carpet is to save on the hassle of cleaning up carpets that get soaked due to water leaks and floods. Plumbing issues can lead to major flooding inside a rental house, and wet carpets quickly become a serious problem. Soaked carpets have to be pulled up, and the sub-flooring, pad, and carpeting dried immediately and thoroughly to avoid any mold growth. If drying the carpet isn’t possible, it will need to be replaced. Flooding situations that are not dealt with promptly and correctly can put residents’ health at risk and expose them to serious liability.
Most types of hard-surface flooring (other than real hardwood) fare better in flooding situations. When properly installed, most laminates and vinyl are very water-resistant and can dry out efficiently. You can eliminate the need for expensive restoration services or flooring replacement!
Reason #3: Longevity
It is common practice to replace carpets every five years or so. Some landlords stretch that out to seven years or more only to find out that it comes with disadvantages. Residents prefer carpets that are not threadbare or stained and will often leave a rental if the carpet does not meet their standard. Aside from just looking bad, old carpeting is also often dangerous. Carpet tack can start to emerge from underneath aged carpets and can cause injury. Cheap carpet usually does not last more than a couple of years in rental properties.
Hard-surface flooring enjoys more longevity. Hard-surface floors are more likely to withstand tenants’ potential damage, and most tile or laminate flooring lasts for ten to twenty years. At a very similar cost as carpet, laminate flooring needs way less replacing and can be more superior material for rental properties.
Reason #4: Modern Look
Finally, wall-to-wall carpeting can sometimes make a rental property’s interior look outdated. Modern homes usually only have carpets in bedrooms or even none at all. Attractive laminate flooring or tile, instead of carpet, in the main living areas, gives your rental a more modern look.Compared to carpet, which tenants cannot change, hard-surface flooring allows tenants to add rugs or other decors without worrying about any damage.Modern laminate tiles come in different sizes, colors, and patterns, including wood-look tiles that can easily upgrade your rental’s aesthetic without the cost and hassle of hardwood.
The benefits of hard-surface flooring are making many rental property owners choose to leave carpet behind for good. Would you like more information about how to design beautiful, durable rental home interiors that tenants will love while saving you money? Give Real Property Management DC Metro a call at 202-269-0303. Our team of Capitol Hill property managers works with rental property owners like you to lower your maintenance and repair costs without making your rental home any less appealing for tenants.
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