Have Pet-Friendly Rentals? Prepare Them for the Next Tenant

Do you rent houses to pet owners? Sound financial reasons to allow pets in your properties can be convincing. You get a wider pool of potential tenants and can even charge more for pets in rentals. But when a tenant with a pet leaves your unit, some landlords worry about the cost to clean up and prepare that unit for the next tenant.

The good news is that you can get your rental home back into great condition to impress the next occupants — without breaking the bank. How? Here are five steps to take.

1. Replace Damaged Doors

Some pets have a few destructive tendencies, no matter how good the pet. Dogs and cats may scratch or bite on entry doors or cabinet doors. Cats may sharpen their claws on corners and edges of walls, cabinets, or tables.

Most of the items that receive damage from pets, though, will leave with the tenant. Generally, you're likely only to find it necessary to buff out or replace an interior door or two. Don't leave scratched doors, though, or future tenants may be turned off.

2. Fix Scratched Carpets

Did the pet scratch or claw at the edges of carpets? This often happens around closed doors and corners. But don't rush out to replace the carpet. Have it fixed instead. Professional carpet repair can do wonders with many types of damage pets might inflict.

Have the carpet trimmed and re-stretched to get rid of frayed edges, burns, or missing fibers. Modern carpet repair methods usually result in a rug that appears nearly brand new.

3. Deep Clean Floors

Floors are the biggest potential problem after a pet has been in the house. Pet stains, loose hair, and dander can carry allergens. And any signs of leftover fur may be perceived as uncleanliness by potential future renters. Not sure if the carpet needs a deep clean? Try inspecting it with a black-light lamp.

While it's likely cheaper to attempt to clean carpets yourself, hire a professional instead. Getting rid of deep stains or fur often requires specialty techniques, materials, and tools that pros use. It will be worth the investment because you don't have to pay for all new carpets.

4. Spruce Up Window Treatments

Other than carpeting, the biggest source of organic material in most empty homes are window treatments. Don't overlook these as a source of odor or dander problems after pets have vacated the home. Start by removing and thoroughly washing all fabric window coverings, no matter how far from the pet they were. Remember, pet hair can circulate extensively throughout a pet owner's home.

Next, inspect window coverings for signs of damage from animals. Many cats love to sit in the window and watch outside, for instance. But this may result in damage to the blinds as the cat moves in and out. Spend a few dollars to replace damaged blinds. If no damage is visible, soak and thoroughly wash all the blinds with soapy water.

5. Get Rid of Odors

Pet odors can be hard for some owners to detect. But sensitive tenants will be turned off from renting this home almost as soon as they walk through the door. Even after a good cleaning, some odors may linger. Have objective third party observers inspect the rental unit for odor when you are done cleaning. If they still detect anything, work with a professional odor removal service to target probable causes.

Clearly, renting a unit to people with pets does add to your post-tenant checklist. But you can do a thorough job preparing the house or apartment without spending all your hard-earned money. At Carpet Cleaning Supply of Indiana, we can help. Call today to learn more about our deep cleaning services.