Blog Post

Comparing Flooring Options for Your Long Beach Rental

Dustin Edwards • Dec 30, 2021

The Right Flooring Attracts Tenants and Saves You on Maintenance

Flooring Options

Selecting flooring for your Long Beach rental can be difficult, especially with so many options to consider. Every type of flooring has its own set of pros and cons and making the wrong decision can turn off potential tenants. Ultimately, choosing rental flooring that is sleek and stylish while still durable and easy to clean is the most important factor. 


Each room of your Long Beach rental serves a different purpose. As such, a type of flooring that might be ideal for the master bedroom could be a horrible choice for the kitchen. To explain this further, here is a breakdown of the various rental flooring available to you and the best rooms to put them in. 


Luxury Vinyl Tile

Luxury Vinyl Tile (or LVT for short) is a fantastic alternative to more popular selections. It does not require extensive cleaning and is less prone to scratches. Additionally, LVT works within any area of your rental. 


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. 


While there is a wide range of LVT designs that arguably rival the look of wood and carpet, some tenants may remain partial to the glossy shine of finished wood or the cozy feel of carpet. Thus, depending on the demographic your rental is targeting, LVT may not be the best route for you. 


Wood

Similar to LVT, wood flooring works within any area of your rental. However, wood lacks the longevity of LVT. Shoes and animal claws can easily scuff the surface. Moreover, if it is in an area prone to spills, such as kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, wood flooring requires recurrent refinishing and resealing to ensure water resistance and prevent mold build-up. These added costs can pose an inconvenience. 


If you decide to go with wood flooring, use it in bedrooms and living rooms rather than kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms (or save for the cost of periodic refinishing). Also, consider adding throw rugs to keep your tenants’ feet warm in the cooler months when wood surfaces are chilly. 


Depending on the type and size of wood,
ImproveNet estimates a material cost of $2 - $20 per square foot. On top of that, Home Depot charges an average installation price of $4 per square foot. Thus, wood is the most expensive type of rental flooring, especially if you factor in the added upkeep.


Carpet

Carpet is most suitable for bedrooms, especially since most tenants enjoy feeling something warm and soft under their toes in the morning. That being said, carpet is a terrible choice for kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, as these areas are more prone to liquid spills that can be near impossible to remove from carpet. Not to mention, nobody wants to put their dripping feet on the carpet after taking a shower. 


Carpet can work for living rooms. Nevertheless, it requires extra vacuuming to thoroughly pick out any hair, dust, and food particles that collect within the bristles. Your tenants may not be inclined to take on these cleaning responsibilities. Furthermore, if your tenants have pets, dogs or cats may shred and rip up carpet, especially in frequented areas such as living rooms. If that occurs, you would be responsible for buying replacement carpet and installing it, which is a hassle even if your tenants pay for it. 


Home Depot prices carpet at around $1 - $4 per square foot. Costs vary based on the style, pattern, and texture, but Home Depot has zero installation fees, which makes carpet a cheaper option as opposed to LVT or wood. 


Even after taking all these factors into consideration, flooring remains rather specific to your Long Beach rental (or even
ADU). Fortunately, a property management company can tour your premises and determine the best rental flooring options for your tenants. If you are interested in this type of service, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or check out our Free Rental Analysis online


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By Dustin Edwards 01 May, 2024
Everyone wants to feel safe in their homes. As an investment property owner, it's up to you to decide whether or not to include security measures in your property. Many of the costs associated with the security measures can be included in the rent, meaning not only can you keep your property safe, but you can earn more income in the long run. However, you would still want your tenants to have renters insurance to protect their assets. Today, we’ll discuss the top five security measures you can add to your property and why they're beneficial to you and your tenant. Security Cameras Cameras are probably one of the first security measures people think about when asked about security. Cameras provide more benefits than just surveillance. They provide an extra level of security for the safety of the tenants and their belongings. Additionally, security cameras can be useful when repairs are required. Cameras can aid in supervising repairs and maintenance to ensure you’re receiving the agreed-upon work. During vacancies when the property is empty, security cameras can help keep the property safe from potential intruders. Doorbell cameras are incredibly popular now. They provide the aforementioned safety of a camera that can be accessed remotely, as well as the ability to communicate with visitors. Although one must be careful never to say you're not home, just say you're unavailable to strangers. Security Lights Security lights with motion detectors are another effective tool when adding security measures to your property. These lights brightly if a potential intruder attempts to get near your home. They can provide enough illumination to see the intruder or, at the very least, scare them off. Nowadays, you can find a combination of security cameras and motion-activated security lights, such as the floodlight cam wired plus from Ring . Additionally, because these lights only turn on when motion is detected, they’re more cost-effective than traditional lights with a switch. Illuminate the Property Light generally deters intruders as it's more difficult to hide. Adding lighting to the landscaping can increase the security of the property while creating a relaxing atmosphere. Lights can also be used in other areas of the property to accent features such as trees, benches, or artwork. This can help your property stand out while giving your tenants an additional feeling of safety. Keyless Entry Keyless entry is seen as both a convenience feature and a security feature. They usually use an electronic passcode, biometric data, or grant access through a smartphone app. Physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. You reduce the risk of unauthorized entry by eliminating the need for a physical key to enter the property. Many keyless entry systems include several features, such as remote locking and monitoring. Although keyless entry is a great new technology for keeping your tenants and properties safe, they’re best used with other security systems. Security Company Nothing beats having an extra pair of eyes on your property for security. This is where security companies like ADT and SimpliSafe come in. While companies may deal with security in varying ways, they aim to protect your investment. While safety is the primary role of a security company, remember that many tenants may be willing to pay more for a premium amenity like a home security company. Keeping your property and tenants safe is incredibly important to the longevity of an investment property. If you’re looking to improve the security of your Long Beach rental property or need help managing your beach city rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or fill out our Owner Application online .
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