Replace new carpet in Bedrooms for hardwood?

Question

I will be closing on my 1st STR/MTR this month. I am sooooo excited but also nervous. It is a 1940s 2 bed/1bath that has been renovated by seller. They put new hardwoods throughout the house except in the 2 bedrooms which has new carpet. Arrggg. Question. Should I replace carpet with hardwoods so that they are continuous throughout house? Cost approx $3000. The other STR in my area mostly have hardwoods throughout and I personally don't like carpet which I feel many guests may feel the same. Also, having to interrupt stays to replace later doesn't make sense. I know in LTR the thought is to keep carpet until it gets messed up and then replace. Just want to get thoughts from experienced STR investors.

Thanks so much

April in GA

Thanks so much

April in GA

Trent Reeve · Answer

personally, i would go with the carpet for now. its new and already in. Let your STR start making money before adding cost in replacing the flooring.

Caleb Brown · Answer

I like carpet in bedrooms. Feels more comfy and welcoming. If the carpet gets torn up you can put in hardwoods but I'd use the 3K to make the STR stand out in other ways

April Birdsong · Answer

Update:  My floor guy came over and found original hardwoods under the carpet in the bedrooms. So I am just going to refinish them for $1500.  Yeahhhhh a wonderful surpise.

Thanks again

James Wan · Answer

Original hardwood floors are beautiful but will take a beating from the guests' traffic and their suitcases. Be sure to add plenty of rugs to minimize damage. They add coziness and tie a room together nicely as well.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

$3,000 is cheap for hardwood for 2 bedrooms, so I would go for it now.  Especially since later you're going to have the rooms full of furniture, and have to block off time with no bookings.

I bought my STR with carpet in the 4 bedrooms and didn't have the budget then to replace them with hard flooring. So I need to have the carpets cleaned professionally each year, and my cleaner has to use a home machine to spot clean about every month in the summer, when it is fully booked.  I am putting out hundreds of dollars a year to keep them looking good.  It's mostly stains from drinks being spilled. Luckily, my cleaner will do that for an additional charge, but a lot of cleaners won't.  I intend to change to hard flooring when I can arrange to be there for a lengthy time in the off season, because I live long distance.

Alecia Loveless · Answer

@John Underwood We’re doing away with all our carpet as soon as it is feasible. It doesn’t hold up well and gets dirty.

John Underwood · Answer

Absolutely what Trent said!

You can replace it later.

When I replace I get rid of carpet, but wait till it needs replacing. You might get 10 years out of it.

I have higher end rentals that came with carpet in bedrooms and they have really lasted because we have upscale guests that don't do crazy stuff.

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @April Birdsong, so we have laminate on the main floor and I redid the kid's bunkroom in the lower floor with LVP.

The top floor has the bedrooms. The master has the same laminate as the main floor and the 2 bedrooms have carpet. The stairs and landing at the top of the stairs is carpet as are the stairs to the lower level.

After 7 years hosting, they still look good. I was worried about it, but so far no damage or stains and we allow dogs.

If it is decent quality then I would keep the carpet in place and see how it wears. I would get a little Bissel hand held and have it available to guests to use. I know that guests use the one I put in the main closet. Then you also have it for the cleaners as needed.

Then I would schedule some time for you to head over and do a full deep clean on the carpets yearly if they don't get messed up in between.

This is what we have been doing. We just bring over our full size Bissel and clean the carpets along with full cleaning top to bottom.

So far so good!

Lou Sherman · Answer

Carpets in bedrooms are okay since there will be less foot traffic with shoes on in those rooms. You will have some cleaning costs with the carpet as stains and general wear and tear. As others had mentioned its already in and removing it is lower priority. Adding additional amenities is a better use of funds. Good luck on the new property!

Replace new carpet in Bedrooms for hardwood?

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