Your tenants may be marring your rental home’s kitchen and never even know why. A kitchen has lots of varying elements, from the floors and countertops to the appliances and cabinets. Each and every one of these elements will have to be administered and managed really well, or accidental damage can transpire.
Due to misunderstanding or neglect, unintentional damage to the kitchen can bring on uneconomical renovations for investment property owners. Although, knowing in what form and how this destruction occurs and then sharing with your tenants this knowledge on proper kitchen maintenance can assist greatly in continuing to keep your Columbus rental homes in mint condition.
An attractive kitchen is a big reason why a tenant may prefer a particular rental home. Yet a kitchen can very well experience a considerable amount of unnecessary damage if it is not being properly maintained. Every time, tenants may not really get how to appropriately care for a kitchen’s floor, countertops, or cabinets, unintentionally damaging these features in the process.
Keep in mind that wood or laminate floors can also be scratched or gouged by heavy furniture, heavy foot traffic, and even pets. Tile floors, for the most part, endure really well, although grout can stain or become damaged by strong cleaners or even magic erasers or scrubbers and dropping heavy objects can crack or break tiles. These kinds of harm and damage are usually insignificant at the start, however in the long run, it can create a kitchen floor that has to be replaced years before its expected life is over.
Countertops are another hard surface in the kitchen that can be unwittingly damaged by an otherwise conscientious tenant. Countertops can definitely be permanently stained or discolored by setting hot dishes and pans directly on the counter surface, as well as scored by knives from cutting food without a cutting board. A tenant may not fully realize that even a hard stone like granite can be damaged by heat, sharp objects, and harsh cleaners, causing expensive repairs.
Cabinets are another kitchen element that is often accidentally damaged by tenants. The most obvious and common kind of damage to cabinets comes up when a tenant strives to really deep clean them. Many household cleaners will take the finish off wood cabinets, as will products like magic eraser sponges. Cabinets that have been stripped of their protective finish are very much likely to be further damaged by heat, steam, and grime build-up, which will be even more difficult to get rid of at each cleaning.
Though damage to each of these things can surely lead to costly repairs, there are just a few things that can lead to bigger issues than inappropriately maintained appliances. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges need regular maintenance and proper use to keep functioning properly for many years. For example, the useful life of a dishwasher can be severely shortened if a tenant doesn’t know how to load it properly or uses too much soap. Dishwashers also must be cleaned several times a year by running an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of vinegar, or risk clogged drains or blocked sprayers.
Choosing the wrong cleaning products on an appliance is likewise a prevalent cause for unintentional damage. Ovens, stovetops, and refrigerators can all be scratched or damaged by harsh chemicals or cleaning brushes, resulting in faulty functions and ugly, worn-out appearance. Cleaning is indeed a vital portion of periodic appliance maintenance, but it has to be completed in an exact manner to secure that the appliance does not breakdown and be totally replaced.
Guiding tenants about proper kitchen maintenance is a principal factor of effectively operating an ideal rental home, but it can be tough to do so without possibly damaging a landlord-tenant relationship. This is where the professionals at Real Property Management Greater Madison Metro can come in and help.
We can be of help to deliver key information to your tenants while still encouraging good relations. We can, in addition, effectively help make certain that your tenants are executing essential maintenance chores in the kitchen each year, making the daily upkeep of your Columbus rental home a simple and direct process. Contact us online or call us now at 608-310-1290 for more information.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
