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Why Removing Carpet is a Smart Move for Your Rental Home

A cozy living room with a couch, coffee table, and hard-surface floors
Swapping out the carpet in your Delafield rental home every few years is important, yet most landlords dislike the task. Why not consider getting rid of the carpet in your rental property for good? 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

One of the toughest aspects of having carpet in a rental home is maintaining its cleanliness. You might clean the carpets professionally between tenants, but they may not maintain them while living there. If tenants reside for several years, those carpets could be collecting dirt and grime for a long time.

Carpet fibers are known for clinging to bad odors, particularly if they aren’t cleaned regularly and adequately. 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. Hard-surface flooring is far more sanitary than carpet for young children and those with respiratory or other health issues.

Avoid soaked carpets in case of a flood

Another reason to forgo carpets is the difficulty of cleaning them after water leaks and floods. Even a minor plumbing problem can result in significant flooding in a rental, and wet carpets can become a serious issue.

Wet carpets must be pulled up, and the subflooring, pad, and carpet should be dried immediately and thoroughly to prevent mold. If the carpet can’t be dried, it must 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 (excluding natural hardwood) is much easier to handle 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

Everyone knows that carpets should 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 the carpet isn’t replaced on a regular basis, they may think about moving out.

Old carpets are unsightly and often pose a danger. 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.

Hard-surface flooring, on the other hand, is much more durable. While tenants can damage hard-surface floors, most tile or laminate flooring can 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

Finally, wall-to-wall carpet can sometimes make a rental property look dated. Newer homes usually have minimal carpet, often just in bedrooms or not at all.

To give your rental a contemporary look, consider replacing carpet with attractive laminate or tile flooring in the main areas. Unlike carpet, which tenants can’t change, hard-surface flooring allows tenants to add rugs or other décor items to personalize the space while keeping it clean and durable.

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.

Explore the benefits of using hard-surface flooring in rental properties. Reach out to Real Property Management Greater Milwaukee at 262-309-6961 or online for cost-saving tips on creating attractive, durable interiors that tenants will love. Our property managers in Delafield are experts in reducing maintenance costs without sacrificing tenant appeal.

 

Originally Published on May 7, 2021

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