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What Type of Flooring Would You Recommend for Long-term Wear for Rentals?

Dustin Edwards • July 10, 2021

Attractive Flooring that Lasts Helps You and Your Tenant

Flooring for Rentals
Buying flooring for your Long Beach rental can be a daunting process. You want to make the right decision while also remaining within your price range. 

There are a variety of factors to consider. Your rental flooring should be aesthetically pleasing, easy to clean, and built to last. It should provide your tenants with both convenience, a touch of style, and even help to attract the best tenants for your property. 

Furthermore, buying flooring for your rental is not the same as buying for your primary residence. This is a mistake that many new landlords make. It is one that, after it has been made once, is not repeated. We encourage you to discover flooring options below that are ideal for your Long Beach rental. 

Luxury Vinyl Tile
Gone are the days of wall-to-wall carpet. Not only is it a burden to clean, but it also retains hideous stains and is not durable. Additionally, dogs and cats can easily shred and rip up carpet. Though tenants with pets would obviously have to pay for any damages, you would still be responsible for all the work of buying new carpet and hiring an installation service. 

While wood flooring is easier to clean, much like carpet, it is not durable. Wood flooring is prone to scuffs, scratches, and spills. These damages are sometimes permanent. Even if they are fixable, repairs can be expensive. Also, wood flooring is not ideal for humid environments. This poses an issue for rentals in Long Beach. 

All the potential hassles of a rental fitted with carpet or wood flooring can be eliminated by replacing it with much stronger alternatives, such as Luxury Vinyl Tile.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (or LVT for short) is a type of flooring that resembles wood or stone. It consists of three layers - a backing layer to add stability, a photographic layer that displays the design, and a protective layer to promote longevity. LVT’s strong protective layer shields against scratches and water. Whether the bathtub overflows, appliances leak, or your tenant spills a drink, the flooring will remain safe. Moreover, LVT is humidity resistant and preserves heat to keep your tenants’ feet warm, unlike wood flooring which (without proper insulation) is usually cool underfoot. 

Many people are partial to the coziness of waking up and stepping on warm, fluffy carpet. As such, tenants may have an adverse reaction to bedrooms lacking carpet. However, you can put LVT in your rental’s bedrooms and still keep your tenants happy. To help with creating a “warm” environment consider putting down area rugs to offset the usage of the LVT as those can be replaced for each tenant easily and very cost effectively. 

Another positive of LVT is its noise reduction. Although footsteps on wood flooring can commonly be heard around your rental, footsteps on LVT are relatively silent. This makes your rental a quieter place. 

Best of all, LVT is a relatively inexpensive option. According to ImproveNet, material costs run at about $2 to $7 per square foot, and installation costs range between $1 to $4 per square foot. Despite its low price, LVT is visually stunning and rivals the look of wood flooring. For more information surrounding LVT pricing, visit your local flooring retailer.  

Taking all these points into consideration, LVT is arguably the best option for your Long Beach rental. Hiring a property management company can make finding and installing LVT easier. If you would like assistance with flooring or other additions to your rental, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247, or you can check out our Free Rental Analysis online

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By Dustin Edwards January 24, 2025
Maintaining high tenant occupancy rates in today’s competitive rental market can be challenging for some landlords, especially those just starting their portfolios. With a large number of options available, attracting and retaining high-quality tenants requires more than the traditional methods. In order to stand out, landlords need to get out of their comfort zones and adopt innovative strategies tailored to modern tenants and their priorities. Below are three such tactics to boost tenant occupancy and reduce vacancies. Highlight Eco-Friendly Features Prospective tenants are increasingly being drawn to sustainable living, this makes eco-friendly features a key incentive for many landlords. Tenants have been prioritizing homes that align with their eco-friendly values. Consider using energy-efficient appliances such as washers, refrigerators, and HVAC systems. This Is a great area to begin though it can be expanded upon with solar panels, and EV charging stations. Being eco-friendly is more than electronics, water conservation measures can be equally important in attracting tenants. Installing water-saving fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens reduces water consumption while potentially saving you or your tenants on the water bill. Furthermore, usingdrought-resistantt and native plants also help conserve water while maintaining curb appeal. Eco-friendly upgrades will oftentimes cater to the growing demand of sustainable living, and create a competitive advantage to attract environmentally conscious tenants looking for long-term occupancy. Adopt Digital Strategies An effective online presence is essential for attracting prospective tenants in today’s digital age. Most potential tenants starting their search online, landlords need to be able to capitalize on digital marketing platforms and social media to showcase their properties and stand out in the market. Posting listings on popular rental platforms like Zillow, Apartments.com or Rent.com to name a few can further improve visibility. These platforms help landlords and property managers to highlight unique features in the property such as the aforementioned eco-friendly upgrade and other amenities you may have on your rental property. Social media sites can also be used as a powerful tool for showcasing rentals and engaging prospective tenants . This is also a great place to share professional photos, virtual tours, and even tenant testimonials. This can help to build trust and interest from potential renters. You can also use social media to maintain healthy communication with established tenants which is a great way to demonstrate approachability and professionalism. This can be a great way to reach a broader audience and improve your rental property’s visibility. Tenant Retention Although not necessarily a new tactic, screening potential tenants is a timeless yet continually evolving strategy for maintaining high occupancy rates. Retaining reliable tenants reduces turnover rates and minimizes costs. To achieve this, landlords need to first prioritize finding the right tenant. Careful tenant screening is vital for long-term success. This typically includes credit and background checks, as well as contacting previous landlords to help you identify financially stable tenants who are likely to care for the property. Another method for retaining tenants is by offering move-in incentives . This can be small perks such as gift cards or something more enticing such as a month of free rent. These gestures can help make a prospective tenant feel more valued, reinforcing their decision to stay in your rental long-term. Even a little kindness can leave a lasting impression. It's crucial to stay ahead of the market to boost occupancy, adopting innovative strategies can help meet modern renter’s appeals. Adapting quickly ensures your rental properties stand out against the competition while attracting tenants in a competitive landscape. If you need help filling in vacancies or if you need help managing Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online .
By Dustin Edwards January 17, 2025
A new year is a new chance to start new ideas to bring in prospects to your property. Consider the following 5 ideas to engage prospects and get new tenants.
By Dustin Edwards January 10, 2025
Having clear communication with your tenant is essential for maintaining a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. By being transparent in all relevant interactions, landlords can prevent misunderstandings while resolving repairs and disputes efficiently while improving tenant satisfaction. Having good communication with your tenant is beneficial for landlords too. Effective communication also protects your investment property. Remember that while your tenant is living in the property, landlords need to take care of the repairs. Below are the three best things to do during tenant communications. Prompt Responses Addressing tenant concerns quickly is essential for building trust and maintaining a positive relationship. Tenants feel valued when landlords respond quickly, knowing that their needs are being prioritized. Building this trust not only enhances your tenant’s satisfaction it lowers the possibility of conflicts or misunderstandings to arise. This ultimately creates a healthy and successful rental experience for you and your tenant. Some of the most common inquiries will oftentimes include repair requests, among others. As an example; if your tenant reports a leak under their faucet and the repair is delayed, this can be damaging to your landlord-tenant relationship, as well as your property. If left ignored, that leak can result in hundreds of dollars in water damage and a vacancy . Which can further affect our bottom line negatively. For landlords with multiple properties, this can become difficult to keep track of. A property manager can help with scheduling repairs and communicating with your tenant on your behalf. Document Everything Keeping a detailed record of all interactions with your tenant is an important element when managing a property. There are many choices for documentation including email, text, or written notices. Although many property management companies and landlords have opted to use apps or dedicated tenant portals to log communications. A great example, for instance, a tenant may claim they’d reported a repair issue that was never addressed, if everything is to be documented, both you and the tenant would have a copy of the request. Maintaining transparency with tenants. Having thorough documentation ensures agreements and requests between all parties are clearly tracked. Documenting communications with your tenant provides landlords with a foundation for addressing misunderstandings, or disputes if and when they arise. Provide Regular Updates Regular updates show tenants that their landlord is organized and has an attentive approach to managing their property. Giving tenants ample time for maintenance, inspections or policy changes is a simple way to build trust with your tenants while showing your professionalism. Giving tenants advanced notices reassures them that you’re aware of how changes can affect them and you understand that time might be needed in order to adjust. Surprises are best kept for birthday parties. Proactively notifying tenants of changes helps clear the communication channels and minimizes disruptions which helps tenants feel valued and satisfied. These small yet consistent efforts can contribute to a positive tenant stay, which can encourage lease renewals and long-term tenancy. Additionally, having a good relationship with your tenants can give you a great reputation which can provide you with leads when looking to fill a vacancy . It cannot be understated the importance of communication for a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. Even if your tenant may not agree with some of the decisions a landlord needs to make, by giving your tenants ample time to process the change tenants generally are more accepting of said change. If you’re having trouble communicating with your tenants or if you need help managing Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online .
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