Your tenants may unwittingly be damaging your rental home’s kitchen. A kitchen is comprised of many parts, from the floors and countertops to the appliances and cabinets. Every element must be used properly and treated with care, or they may get accidental damage.
Through misunderstanding or neglect, unintentional damage to the kitchen can be very expensive for investment property owners to repair. However, when you know how the damage occurs, you can teach your tenants proper kitchen maintenance. Doing this would help them keep your Newington rental homes in its best condition.
An attractive kitchen is sometimes the deciding factor that makes a tenant choose a rental home. However, a kitchen can also suffer a lot of unnecessary damage if it is not being properly maintained. Tenants may not know that there is a proper way 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 known to be more durable, 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 unintentionally damaged by a tenant, 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 would not even think it possible that a hard stone like granite can be damaged by heat, sharp objects, and harsh cleaners. But it can and it would lead to 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 disposed to be further damaged by heat, steam, and grime build-up, which will be harder to get rid of 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.
Using the wrong cleaning products on an appliance is another common reason why unintentional damage happens. Ovens, stovetops, and refrigerators can all be scratched or damaged by harsh chemicals or cleaning brushes, making them operate poorly and look unsightly. 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 experts at Real Property Management Hartford Metro/Greater New London are happy to help out 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 Newington rental home an uncomplicated and routine process. Don’t hesitate to contact us online or give us a ring at 860-316-4388 to know more about what we can do for you.
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