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The carpet in rental properties undergoes a high level of wear and tear. Maintaining your rental property in the top and the most attractive condition is an important part of real estate investment. That’s why if you’re a rental property owner, then you must keep in mind that you choose the best carpet for rental property. However, it’s hard and confusing to know which kind of carpet is best for rental homes. But if you get an idea of what to look for in a good-quality carpet, then you can make a decision quickly. The carpets that work best for rental properties have a few standard features.
How Carpets Impact Your Rental Property?
As a property owner, you definitely don’t want low vacancy rates in your rental property. But in order to attract potential tenants, you must maintain your property in top conditions. You have to perform regular maintenance on your rental property. Deep cleaning of the carpets or carpet replacements is one of the investments you have to do regularly in order to maintain your rental property. That’s why you must choose a durable carpet for your rental property, as it can impact the amount of money you make from your real estate investment.
You should go for a good-quality carpet that is highly durable and stain-resistant. You might need to spend a little more, but you can also attract tenants with good-quality carpets.
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Best Carpet for Rentals – What You Should Look For?
You must have a good idea of what kind of carpet you want for your rental. The most important you need to keep in mind when choosing a carpet is what kind of people your tenants are.
If your tenants are families with children, then you might want to go for durable carpets. And if your tenants are students, pet owners, or people who frequently have guests coming over, then you might want to go for carpets that have stain-resistance quality. You should look out for these qualities:
Carpet Pad
A Carpet is just a textile floor covering made out of polyester fibers, polypropylene (olefin), wool, or nylon fibers. Without padding, the backing of the carpet will break, and the carpet starts to age – losing its shape and looking worn. Carpet pads are used as a foundation to install carpets. If you go for a low-quality pad, then you might need to do frequent replacements since the foam in a cheap carpet compacts quickly.
Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles are individual squares designed to be interlocked or loosely laid on a floor. They come in various sizes, colors, and materials, making them a versatile flooring option for residential and commercial spaces. They offer advantages like easier replacement of stained or damaged sections. However, wall-to-wall carpet is usually more affordable upfront and gives a more polished, finished look. Carpet tiles are better if:
- Frequent moves are expected, which might damage a lot of carpet. Tiles let you swap out only the affected areas.
- The budget is tight since tiles can be installed incrementally as funds allow.
Carpet Quality
Quality matters a lot when it comes to shopping for a carpet. Rental property owners should go for polyethylene terephthalate polyester carpets. The best carpets are made out of this plastic material.
Another good quality material is Triextra. The carpet made of Triextra is stain-resistant, but it isn’t durable. Triextra Carpets look newer after only a year-long period.
There are also nylon carpets available on the market. These carpets are durable, but they don’t have stain-resistant quality.
Carpet Color
Go for neutral colors when choosing the carpet for a rental unit. Neutral colors like grey tones, tan, and light brown will easily blend with the tenant’s furniture and other items and will not show stains easily. Dark Brown is the best carpet color to hide dirt and stains.
Carpet Price
Many property owners go for the cheapest carpet options for their rental properties to save money. But they end up paying more than they intend to save. Cheap-quality carpets are neither durable nor stain-resistant. That’s why you should always choose a good-quality carpet, even if it’s expensive. Trust me, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.
Carpet Pile
Carpet pile refers to the loops of fabric within a carpet. There are two kinds of pile carpets: Low pile carpets and High pile carpets (Deep pile carpets).
Low-pile carpets have tight loops of fabric and shorter fibers. The shorter fibers are flat and dense, which gives the carpet a smoother surface. Low-pile carpet is best for a rental property with heavy traffic. They are very easy to clean, convenient, and less expensive. However, they are also less warm, less comfortable, and less cozy than high-pile carpets.
High-pile carpets have long and tall fibers. High fibers give long-term performance, and longer fibers give a plush appearance and texture to the carpet. High-pile carpets are best for low-traffic areas. They have a luxurious appearance compared to low-pile carpets and are also they are warm and great for insulation. However, deep pile carpets are difficult to clean and easily dented when furniture is placed on top.
Fiber Material
If you go shopping for carpets then you will most likely encounter carpets made of four kinds of fibers: Nylon, Polyester, Polypropylene, and Wool.
As I have already explained, property owners should go for either durable or stain-resistant coatings.
Nylon
Nylon carpets are the most popular material on the market. But they don’t have stain-resistant qualities. Nylon is one of the best materials for resisting dirt, mold, and mildew. A special coating can be applied to increase resistance against stains, too!
Polypropylene
Following Nylon, Polypropylene carpets are the most durable carpets. They are resistant to moisture spills, but they are very sensitive to heat and friction and also get stained by oil spills.
Polyester
Polyester carpets are the weakest in terms of durability, but property owners choose polyester carpets for “stain resistance.” Polyester Polymer naturally repels moisture and is very easy to clean.
Wool
Wool carpets are also very durable and can maintain their shape and beauty despite heavy furniture and years of foot traffic. But wool carpets are more likely to have permanent stains if they aren’t addressed immediately.
Luxury Carpet for Rental Properties – A Good Idea?
Choosing high-quality carpets for rental units is necessary to minimize maintenance costs. But a rental owner should never go for luxury carpets. As a property owner, you have a long list of responsibilities for maintaining your rental property. Replacing or Deep Cleaning the carpet is one of them. If you choose a luxury carpet, then you can expect high maintenance and carpet replacement costs. No matter how high-end your rental is or how expensive the carpet is, a slight increment in rent won’t be enough to justify your expenditure.
Maintaining the rental property is difficult, tedious, and consumes a lot of time. If you are willing to do everything yourself, then you have to give up your job and invest your entire time in property management. But if you have more important things to do, then you are better off hiring property managers for the job.
Hiring a property management company is more profitable for you if you have better things to do than managing your rental property. A Property management company can take care of everything for you, from tenant screening, maintenance, leasing, rent collection, and day-to-day activities. Property managers are well-educated on state and local laws. So, you needn’t worry about breaking any laws and regulations. Also, property management companies have highly trained and qualified personnel for maintenance and repairs. They can also help in choosing carpets on your behalf, cutting unnecessary expenditures in order to maximize your profit. The property manager helps you to find the best tenants and also minimizes the vacancy rate as much as possible.
Making the Best Carpet Choice for Your Rental
Selecting the best carpet flooring for rental property is a strategic investment that pays off in the long run. By prioritizing durability, style, budget-friendliness, and professional installation, you’re setting the stage for a successful and profitable rental venture. To further enhance the longevity of your carpets, consider reading about how to protect carpet from pets. Elevate your investment with quality flooring that not only stands the test of time but also adds value to your rental property.
OKC Home Realty Services, a property management OKC can take care of everything for you with your rental units. To find out more about our services. Call us Today!
FAQs About Carpet for Rental Property
What color carpet is the best for a rental property?
To keep your carpets clean and stain-free, choose a neutral color such as tan or light brown. These colors will not show stains easily so they blend well with the tenant's furniture and personal items in the room!
Which carpets are best for high-traffic areas at home?
Berber carpets are excellent for high-traffic areas. They're made with loops instead of strands, which gives them durability and strength in comparison to most types that have a vulnerable thin strand foundation- making it great if you have children or pets running around your home!
How often should carpets in rental properties be replaced?
On average, carpets in rental properties should be replaced every 5 to 7 years. It also depends on the level of foot traffic and maintenance.
What is the best material for rental property carpets?
For rental properties, carpets consisting of materials like nylon or polyester blends are highly recommended. They serve with long-term durability and are stain-resistant.
Can landlords install carpets in high-moisture areas of a rental property?
It's advisable to avoid installing carpets in high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens. You need to go for waterproof flooring options in those spaces.
Is carpet really the best choice for rentals?
Carpets offer advantages over hard floors in warmth, comfort, and soundproofing. With the right high-quality, low-maintenance carpet, they also hold up well to tenant turnover. Look for stain-resistant, tightly constructed fibers like platinum or solution-dyed nylon designed for high-traffic rental use. Proper care extends carpet life significantly.
Author
Scott Nachatilo is an investor, property manager and owner of OKC Home Realty Services – one of the best property management companies in Oklahoma City. His mission is to help landlords and real estate investors to manage their property in Oklahoma.
