Your tenants might be doing things that ruin your rental home’s kitchen and not even know it. A kitchen is formed from multiple components, from the floors and countertops to the appliances and cabinets. Every one of the components must be properly used and cared for, or else they may sustain accidental damage.
Through misunderstanding or neglect, unintentional damage to the kitchen can lead to high costs of repairs for investment property owners. However, when you recognize how this damage happens, you can train your tenants on proper kitchen maintenance. This would aid them in keeping your Spanish Springs rental homes in top shape.
One of the reasons why a tenant will choose one rental home over another is an attractive kitchen. But a kitchen could undergo so much unnecessary damage if it is not being properly maintained. Tenants may have never been taught 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 durable and last longer, 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. These types of battering and overuse may appear minor, however, over a length of time, it will exacerbate and turn into a kitchen floor that needs to be ripped out and replaced years before its expected life is over.
Countertops are another hard surface in the kitchen that tenants can accidentally damage, even though he or she is very careful. Countertops can quickly 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 may not even know that a hard stone like granite can be damaged by heat, sharp objects, and harsh cleaners. But it can and it would lead to some expensive repairs.
Cabinets are another kitchen element that is often accidentally damaged by tenants. The typical kind of damage to cabinets usually occurs when a tenant attempts to clean them without knowing the proper way. 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 liable to be further damaged by heat, steam, and grime build-up, which will be harder to clear at each cleaning.
While damage to each of these parts can lead to costly repairs, few things produce more problems than appliances that are improperly maintained. 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.
Utilizing the wrong cleaning products on an appliance is another typical cause of unintentional damage. Ovens, stovetops, and refrigerators can all be scratched or damaged by harsh chemicals or cleaning brushes, making them function badly and look terrible. Cleaning is a critical part of standard appliance maintenance, but it must be done the right way in order to make sure that the appliance does not stop working.
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 field of expertise where the experts at Real Property Management Corazon can assist you.
We can aid you by communicating crucial information to your tenants and at the same time 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 Spanish Springs rental home a straightforward and simple process. Feel free to contact us online or by phone at 775-826-1414. We’ll be glad to answer any of your questions.
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