Your tenants might be doing things that ruin your rental home’s kitchen and not even know it. A kitchen is comprised of many parts, 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 expensive for investment property owners to repair. However, knowing how this damage occurs and teaching your tenants proper kitchen maintenance can help keep your Fresno rental homes in good condition.
An attractive kitchen is sometimes the deciding factor that makes a tenant choose a rental home. But a kitchen can also go through a lot of 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 can be damaged by a tenant accidentally. It wouldn’t matter if the tenant were really careful in every other aspect. 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 even believe that it is impossible for hard stone like granite to be damaged by heat, sharp objects, and harsh cleaners. But it is possible and it would result in some very expensive repairs.
Cabinets are another kitchen element that is often accidentally damaged by tenants. The damage that is most common for cabinets happens when a tenant tries 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 liable to be further damaged by heat, steam, and grime build-up, which will be harder to remove at each cleaning.
While the cost to repair any damaged elements may be high, few things create more problems than poorly 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.
Putting 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, causing them to operate terribly and look bad. Cleaning is a necessary part of proper appliance maintenance, but it must also be done correctly or else the appliance may no longer work 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 Platinum can certainly lend a hand with this.
We can help out by informing your tenants of pertinent information as well as encouraging 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 Fresno 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 559-324-9400.
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