Your tenants may be ruining your rental home’s kitchen without even knowing. A kitchen includes various elements, from the floors and countertops to the appliances and cabinets. Every one of these parts must be handled and maintained correctly, or accidental damage can happen.
Through misunderstanding or neglect, unintentional damage to the kitchen can end up costing the investment property owners a great deal to repair. However, when you recognize how this damage happens, you can train your tenants on proper kitchen maintenance. This would aid them in keeping your Fells Point rental homes in top shape.
One of the biggest reasons why a tenant decides on a rental home is an attractive kitchen. But a kitchen could undergo so much unnecessary damage if it is not being properly maintained. Tenants may be unaware of how to take care of a kitchen’s floor, countertops, or cabinets, unintentionally damaging these features in the process.
Keep in mind that wood or laminate floors can be scratched or gouged by heavy furniture, heavy foot traffic, and even pets. Tile floors are more durable and usually outlast other types of floors, but grout can stain or become damaged by strong cleaners or even magic erasers or scrubbers and dropping heavy objects can crack or break tiles. Over a period of time, these sorts of hard wear may seem insignificant but it can build up to a kitchen floor that needs to be changed years before its expected life is over.
Countertops are another hard surface in the kitchen that can be accidentally damaged by a tenant– even a tenant who is very careful. Countertops are easily damaged and can become 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 would never even think that a hard stone like granite can be damaged by heat, sharp objects, and harsh cleaners. But the truth is that it can be damaged and it would leave the owner with expensive repairs.
Cabinets are another kitchen element that is often accidentally damaged by tenants. The most prevalent type of damage to cabinets occurs when a tenant improperly cleans 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 more inclined to be further damaged by heat, steam, and grime build-up, which will be tougher to remove at each cleaning.
Though damage to these parts can be expensive to repair, few things bring about more problems than appliances that are not maintained properly. 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.
Applying the wrong cleaning products on an appliance is also a common reason for unintentional damage. Ovens, stovetops, and refrigerators can all be scratched or damaged by harsh chemicals or cleaning brushes, resulting in them functioning terribly and looking unappealing. Cleaning is a vital part of routine appliance maintenance, but it should be done correctly to make sure the appliance wouldn’t cease to operate and need to be replaced.
Teaching tenants proper kitchen maintenance is a vital part of handling a quality rental home, but it can be difficult to do without damaging the landlord-tenant relationship. This is the area of discipline where the pros at Real Property Management Metro can be of service. We can assist you by being responsible for disclosing critical information to your tenants and yet continue to encourage good relations.
We can also see to it that your tenants are executing the needed upkeep chores in the kitchen annually, carrying out the daily upkeep of your Fells Point rental home a straightforward and simple process. Feel free to contact us online or by phone at 443-718-9832. We’ll be glad to answer any of your questions.
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