Your tenants may unknowingly be ruining your rental homes’ kitchen. A kitchen contains various elements, from the floors and countertops to the appliances and cabinets. Each element shouldn’t be abused or neglected, but cared for properly and used the way it was designed for, or else accidental damage may occur.
Through misunderstanding or neglect, unintentional damage to the kitchen can be very costly for investment property owners to fix. However, knowing how this damage occurs and teaching your tenants proper kitchen maintenance can help preserve your Winter Garden rental homes good condition.
An attractive kitchen is sometimes the reason why a tenant chooses one rental home over another. But a kitchen can also go through a lot of 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 time these kinds of overuse may look inconsequential but it will result in a kitchen floor that must be torn out and replaced years before its expected life is over.
Countertops are another hard surface in the kitchen that tenants can inadvertently damage, no matter how careful he or she is. 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 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 most usual type of damage to cabinets arises when a tenant attempts to 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 more inclined to be further damaged by heat, steam, and grime build-up, which will be tougher to remove at each cleaning.
While repairs are expensive when one of these elements are damaged, few things generate more problems than badly 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.
Using the wrong cleaning products on an appliance is also usually a cause of 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 worn out. Cleaning is an integral part of good appliance maintenance, but it must be executed properly or else the appliance may conk out and need to be replaced.
Proper kitchen maintenance is essential when running a quality rental home. Tenants must also be educated in this subject, however, educating them may be difficult as it could result in damaging the landlord-tenant relationship. The professionals at Real Property Management Southland can certainly lend a hand with this. We can lend you a helping hand by disseminating vital information to your tenants while being able to encourage good relations.
We can also assist in verifying that your tenants are conducting the necessary repair and improvement duties in the kitchen once a year, doing the daily upkeep of your Winter Garden rental home an uncomplicated and routine process. To know more about what we can do for you, please contact us online or give us a ring at 562-270-1777.
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