A hardwood floor can increase the beauty and longevity of a single-family rental home. But if your rental property has hardwood floors, there are some additional things you need to do to make sure they are kept in good condition. Regular maintenance is one of these extra things you’ll need to do. Tenants can sometimes be very hard on hardwood, scratching and gouging floors either by accident or through negligence. Consequently, it is crucial that both you and your tenant know what to do to take care and maintain your property’s hardwood floors.
One of the most effective ways for your Grandville rental property to stay functional and aesthetically pleasing is to have proper hardwood floor maintenance. But you must not leave out knowing the right way to care for a hardwood floor. For example, surface finishes have been applied to almost all hardwood floors. This coating helps protect the wood from liquid spills, scratches, and other types of damage. So, making sure this finish is kept intact is the best way to ensure the long life of your floor.
Hardwood can also be damaged by using harsh cleaning products or the wrong cleaning technique. This is something to consider. This is the reason why professionals highly recommend using a soft microfiber mop or cloth to sweep dirt and dust off the floor. Even vacuum cleaners can scratch up a hardwood floor, and regular mops aren’t any better because they use too much water— which is also bad for hardwood floors. Also, when there are liquid spills, you can’t waste time, so you need to clean it up right away and make sure the floor is thoroughly dry.
There are many things you, as a property owner, can do. But the best way to ensure that your rental property’s hardwood flooring is kept looking great is to work with your tenants in caring for it. One of the first things you should do is to teach your tenants about proper hardwood floor maintenance and cleaning. When you teach them the correct way to care for the floor, you can extend the life and beauty of the hardwood and prevent damage at the same time.
An additional way to maintain your property’s hardwood floor is to ask your tenants to place rugs in high-traffic areas. This will gather up all the dirt that would otherwise have got on the floor, and it would effectively reduce the amount of cleaning needed. Finally, it would be best that your tenants use the right cleaning products. You can make sure of this by giving them the name of the one recommended for use on your floor, or even include in your lease that they may only use approved cleaning products. This can help strengthen the importance of proper hardwood floor maintenance.
Even if you care for it properly, hardwood floors still need some additional attention every few years or between tenants. After a period of time, wear and tear can fade a floor’s finish and accumulate scratches or other blemishes. But if that’s the only problem you have then you don’t really have to refinish the floor. In most instances, all a faded hardwood floor needs is a screening (which roughens up the surface of the existing finish) and a new application of a finish.
Nevertheless, if your hardwood has become seriously damaged, warped, or has deep scratches or other problems, repairing and refinishing the floor may be your only option. Refinishing a floor is a long, labor-intensive task that requires specialized equipment. You can do all of these things yourself, but most Grandville property owners feel that hiring a professional is well worth the cost. A flooring contractor can point out what kind of flooring you have installed, and they can also tell you the best process for you to restore it. Different kinds of wood require different techniques and engineered or wood laminate simply won’t tolerate heavy refinishing as solid hardwood does. For cases like this, any restoration work is best left to a professional.
Taking care of hardwood floors doesn’t need to be difficult, all you need to do is to take time to do some extra planning and to enlist the help of your tenant. The key is to maintain good tenant relations. Good relations makes it more likely for them to help you keep your valuable hardwood floor in the best possible condition.
Take the headache and hassle out of managing your rental properties. At Real Property Management Investment Solutions, we handle the lease paperwork, renter relations, professional vendors and everything else! To talk to a professional Grandville property manager today, please contact us online or give us a ring at 616-419-4578.
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