Rental Unit Flooring???

[Carlton Wood]

Hey BP! Replacing some carpet in a unit i'm renovating so i can to Air BnB it. what is the best option for flooring??? what is going to be the most durable and at the same time attractive? Wood laminate? Vinyl? Carpet? Not sure if there is hard wood under the floors but if so should i just refinish them? 

[John Underwood]

@Carlton Wood I would stay away from carpet and cheap laminate flooring. Higher end laminate should be OK if water will not damage it. All laminate flooring is not created equal.

For rentals I use a vinyl strip flooring that looks like hardwood. It is very durable. It interconnects via glue strips. I have never had to replace any of this and is my go to flooring in long term rentals. I have hardwood and carpet in my VRBO lake house. I have a higher class renter and people take care of the house. Plus the carpet was already there so no point in replacing it. If I would have had to rehab house when I bought it I would have eliminated carpet.

What price point is your VRBO/Airbnb property? 

If higher end - I would refinish hardwoods if you have them under carpet, maybe even tile that looks like hardwood.

Lower end (less than $150/night) maybe use the vinyl strip flooring that looks like hardwood.