Today, I want to talk to you about the repairs that we see most with tenant turn over. The most frequent repairs are smaller repairs; broken blinds, touch up paint, broken outlets & switch plates, and occasionally fans. Unfortunately, there will be certain costs during tenant turn over as a cost of doing business.
The top 3 repairs we recommend to save you money between each tenancy are:
- Blinds
- Paint
- Carpet or Flooring
We do not recommend using the small 1” blinds, which break very easily. Adults, children and pets alike break these small blinds. Instead, we recommend using the bigger 2” wood slat blinds, as they are more durable and tend to last longer.
Likewise when comparing paint. Instead of using white paint, choose a light color like sand or beige so that dirt and scuffs are more easily hidden. Using a semi gloss paint will allow the walls to be wiped instead of needing repainting.
When choosing carpet, don’t use white or cream. Using a tan or speckle pattern will hide the dirt better. Even better though, install tile instead of carpet. The upfront cost may be a bit higher, but you will save money by not having to replace carpet every few years with wear & tear. Tile is a popular flooring here in Florida, as it is easier to maintain and clean, and will save you the owner money in the long run.
If you’re purchasing a home for investment purposes, we would be happy to give you our professional advice on how to prepare your home for the rental market. Alternatively, if you already have a rental home and need to prepare it between tenancies, please call us and we can give you our advice on what repairs need doing. The Warner Quinlan office can be reached at 407-894-0671, or you can email me, Mark Pagdin, Mark@WarnerQuinlan.com
