First and most important and main idea made me to write it, was the sentence I always hear in our trade counters “I want cheap flooring as it’s only for rental property,” they say.
This a big mistake that landlords make, but why? Read on…
I’ve been a property investor for 15 years and, until about two years ago, I had the same negative mindset. I scrimped on the cost of flooring despite owning a wholesale flooring company with access to the best rates! Yes, I was being stingy! I just met some new friends at my local property investor club and was fortunate enough to be invited to one of their new HMOs to assist them with their flooring needs. I was shown a completed HMO next door when I was on site to get a sense of what they were looking for. The most amazing communal areas I’ve ever seen, on par with a beautiful house, were
Introduced to me.
From the expansive kitchen with granite countertops to the floor-to-ceiling ceramic tile bathrooms with walk-in showers, sensor lighting that eliminates the need for light switches, beautiful furniture, and, of course, the flooring!
This series of events prompted me to adopt a laser-like emphasis! I started renovating my own properties one by one right away. And, as the owner of a flooring company, I couldn’t wait to make a big splash.
My portfolio is now increasing in value, becoming irresistible to tenants, and generating significant rental profits. Most importantly, the properties are attracting blue-chip tenants who look after the properties. Not only that, but they consistently pay their premium rentals on time. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.
The best thing about it all is that the money needed to renovate the property can easily be covered by the extra rent it produces, leaving you with cash. When you consider the potential for capital development, you can’t afford not to get busy with renovations! All of this allows you to unwind and sleep soundly assured that your property portfolio is in good hands.
Since flooring is my profession, I just wanted to share 5 tips to make your next renovation a perfect project.
- Begin at the bottom and work your way up – subfloor planning is crucial!
A strong foundation, like anything else in life, will allow you to perform miracles. Follow the guidelines below and don’t stray from them. Under the Carpet, have the floor layer double-check that all of the floorboards are securely fastened to avoid creaks and squeaks. Fill in any gaps where high heels could fall through and puncture the carpet. Are you going to be on concrete? Is it difficult? Request that the fitter use a suitable leveling compound to level the board. If the surface is relatively smooth, a good underlay will hide any minor flaws. Under laminate or timber If a laminate or engineered floor floats over a humpy floor, you end up with a humpy floor. It is really important that the floor is level! Not good. Not good. Using a decent base with a moisture barrier, make sure that it is at a level to inhibit potential damping that could reach your flooring. Oh, fit the bottom before the skirting has been installed. This means that your skirting board can conceal an expansion gap and not the disgusting look of a bead. It is going to be very crisp.
Under Vinyl Luxury Tiles
Have you got a floor or floorboard chipboard? You need to fit the floor to a decent 6mm thick floor covering. Chipboard can decrease, whether it is smooth or good. You must stabilize the floor and make it perfectly stable. Once your ply is securely stacked, mix the finish with a leather and scratch the floor with a trowel. It fills in every minor hole where the ply has been fired by the staple heads. You’ll also fill out all the ply sheets of the hairline. Do you have a floor in concrete? You may need to prime the floor with a neoprene premier, depending on what levelling compound you use. Carefully read and follow the product instructions. Do not cut corners. Do not cut corners! Their strength has a picking effect on the floor and some levelers are dry so hard. The leveling compound can pop up and pop off the floor if it is not connected properly to a primary. One day you walk across the floor to see a lump and then you will hear a crushing sound that has broken the compound beneath your beautiful new flooring. Prep is key for the sub-floor!
- Clean up yourself, Mattress Entrance!
You can buy it from DMS using your PIRC card. Entry Matting is cheap. The matting of coconut was all the rage. The problem is that it is too thick and doors must sometimes be trimmed, and cocoon hair is thrown all over the place and they go through the remainder of your house.
Request a dark brown or ribbed mattress. This item comes in a roll of 2 meters in width, so you must order sufficient length from one party to the other. When you pay for 2m of width, the floor fitter can be fitted as far as you can into your hallway. It’ll take more dirt and cover the floor more so that less is needed from the other floor!
- Communal Entrances & Staircases
So, here’s where the fun begins: these communal areas will judge your HMO, so they must be absolutely stunning. Take my advice and prepare the floors as described above, then install some wood effect Luxury Vinyl Tiles such as Brampton Chase flooring from DMS Flooring Supplies. Take it a step further and frame all of the areas with a border. Install a good quality dark brown carpet on a good quality underlay on the stairs to reduce noise, and I guarantee it will set such a high standard and encourage your tenants to take care of the building that they will be proud to call it home. Investing more in this field would pay off handsomely.
- Kitchens and Bathrooms
Your HMO’s kitchens and bathrooms will take a beating. If you put down a low-cost floor, it will look terrible after a year. Ceramics are good because they last a long time, but they crumble easily when people drop stuff on them, and then you have a problem. Using a luxurious vinyl tile like Brampton Chase once more. This substance is almost impenetrable. It can be installed over underfloor heating, in high-temperature areas, and it will not be harmed if you drop something on it. You can also spill things on it, such as bleach or coke, and it will not be harmed. All you have to do now is mop it or wipe it down with a mild floor cleaner to make it look like fresh.
In these areas, laminate flooring and wood are not worth the risk. A high density fiber board (HDF) core is used to make laminate. If water sits on top of it, it will seep into the cracks, causing your boards to swell and the edges to lift. The game is done. Wood flooring is appropriate, but wood and water are not the best of mates.
- Bedrooms
Depending on the standard of your HMO’s planned service, which I hope will be good after reading this article. With the bedrooms, you have a few options. Carpets are a natural option. Don’t be afraid to use a felt-backed carpet if your subfloor is smooth. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and don’t need any underlay or gripper. They’re also easy to adjust when a tenant moves out. Choose a laminate, wood, or Luxury Vinyl Tile if you want to carry the communal area vibes into the bedrooms. The floor will look brand new for years as tenants move in and out! The important thing to note is that while flooring can cost twice as much, it will last five times as long and have several more benefits. More capital development, more rent, better tenants, more rental stability, and most importantly, more sleep knowing you’ve created a beautiful portfolio of high-end properties that stand out. Have fun with your next project!
