Normal wear and tear is an unavoidable aspect of owning a
home in Arlington. It is the expected deterioration of a building that happens due to regular use. It is different from tenant-caused damage and it is the landlord's responsibility to resolve these wear-and-tear issues and improve the property's condition to make it habitable. Let us understand normal wear and tear in further detail with the help of a few examples.
Normal Wear and Tear of Walls
Walls are usually seen to undergo wear and tear more frequently than other parts of the home. They are continuously exposed to different weather conditions, holes for hanging pictures, drawings or scribbles in case of tenants with kids, and more. Some of the most common signs of deterioration of walls are fading of color due to sunlight, chipped paint, stains due to water leakage, cracks, scuff marks, and even mold growth.
All these are part of natural wear and tear and landlords should make it a point to paint the walls once in 3-5 years. It can help maintain the aesthetic appeal of the house and retain the health of the walls, adding to the life and value of the property.
Deterioration of Floors
No matter how durable the floors are, they are equally susceptible to degradation. Moving heavy items like furniture or appliances from one place to another can result in scratches on the floors, especially if they are hardwood floors. Some other examples are grout, peeled sides of less durable tiles, light stains of beverages or food, and dullness due to aging.
In the case of carpet flooring, light stains, foot dents, small rips, or fading of carpet are potential signs of normal wear and tear. Similarly, if your Arlington rental unit has hardwood floors, you can expect normal deterioration such as fading due to sunlight and small scratches.
Normal Wear and Tear of Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are some other durable items in a home, as they are meant to protect the house from extreme climatic conditions. However, it can experience wear and tear too, in the form of stains, cracks, chipped coating, broken glasses, and loose knobs.
If you find the door hard to open or shut, it could be due to rusting of fixtures, which is also a process of wearing out. At times, extreme conditions like storms could severely damage the exteriors of the doors and windows of your Arlington home.
Degradation of Furniture
If used well, furniture can last for over 10-20 years. However, there will be certain wear and tear issues like fading of the polish, cracks in the lamination, stains due to moisture retention, loosening of the screws and the knobs, peeling of leather couches, and potential swelling of wooden doors or sliders due to heavy rains.
Wear and Tear of Appliances In Your Arlington Rental
These are some of the prominent ways in which natural deterioration occurs in your rental property. It is important for landlords to keep an eye out for these signs during
regular inspections. Admittedly, this might be somewhat difficult if you handle your Arlington rental on your own, as it takes an experienced eye to quickly and accurately note the differences between natural wear and tear and tenant-caused damage.
This is where a property manager can help. A
professional property management company can identify these damages and also get them repaired quickly to protect you from any liabilities.
Consult a trusted property management company in Virginia, like Arlington Realty Property Management. Our team can guide you towards minimizing the wear and tear, keeping your rental in the best possible condition.
To kick your property management efforts into high gear, give Arlington Realty Property Management a buzz today at 703-836-2525 or email mypropertymgr@gmail.com.
