Should I replace hardwood floors

[Vaishaag Panegal]

Hi guys,

I recently had a water damage to the kitchen/living area of townhome which I was living in. That area has hardwood floors. I called insurance and the water mitigation and repairs were done on time.

My insurance company has a policy to inspect hardwood floors only after 3 months from the damage date. Upon recent re-inspection, the insurance adjuster said that the hardwood is not flat enough compared to the other areas of the living room and needs replacement.

The issue is I moved out of state and decided to rent the property and tenants will start living within the next 10 days. My property manager said it is worth replacing the hardwood to maintain the value of the property.

Another issue is the insurance company came up with $7,000 estimate for a 500sqft area. If that estimate falls short of the contractor’s estimate, it could lead to delays in getting approval from the insurance company. (The insurance company sent me the $7000 and told me to find a contractor myself for the replacement.)

In these circumstances, should I go ahead with replacing the hardwood floors and possibly have the tenants live in a hotel if it is not complete before their move in date? I do not want any inconvenience for the tenant and I would not be comfortable if I were in their shoes.

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Vaishaag Panegal:

Insurance paid for new floors so you should install the new floors. 500 square feet can be done fairly quickly. Go find a qualified installer and you can get it done before the tenants arrive, or you can finish it even after they move in.