As the owner of any property, you want to make sure your property appeals to tenants, and part of that includes ensuring the home’s bathroom is up to date and the tub is in good condition.
The bathroom’s main focal point is the tub and your rental property’s tub receives a lot of wear and tear over the years sometimes leaving it quite lackluster.
When your bathtub is damaged, stained, or simply outdated, you have two options – reglaze or replace. With that said, reglazing is much more affordable, and you will not have to worry about trying to have the tub replaced at all.
However, as a property owner, you likely are asking yourself if it is even worth it to save your tub.
Below, we will discuss some of the things you want to consider as you assess whether you should save your tub or simply bite the bullet and replace it.
Visually Inspect Your Bathtub
Before you make any decision, you should inspect your bathtub. You want to make note of any issues you see present with the tub such as chips, staining, or even scratches or cracks. Look to see if there are any serious structural issues with the tub or if the damage done to it seems to be superficial.
As you look for damage, think about what material your tub is made out of and what its age is. This does matter as it is sometimes better to restore a tub that could otherwise be very difficult to replace. For example, a cast iron or antique tub can be harder to replace so it makes more sense to have it restored.
Think About Your Tenants and the Market
Who do you rent your property to the most? If you find that your tenants are mostly families with young children or elderly individuals, then you want to keep this in mind and you definitely do not want to get rid of your tub.
You also want to think about the market that you are renting in as well. For example, a higher-end market is going to expect a flawless tub. Having a tub that is ugly, outdated, or worn will only deter potential tenants and leave you sitting with an empty property.
Should your property be in an area that is more budget-friendly, you may find that it is not a wise idea for you to invest in a completely new tub, especially if you want to keep the rental rates affordable. With lower-priced competition around, even with a new tub, you may find that tenants will choose the cheaper monthly rental.
As with anything, you want to ensure that you are not spending too much on an upgrade, especially if it will not deliver a return on your investment.
Prior to choosing to reglaze or replace, get an idea of what the costs are. For instance, if your tub has minor damage, it may make sense financially to have it reglazed whereas if it is in need of serious repairs, it may be cheaper to simply replace it.
Always compare the cost of refinishing to replacement against your potential return on investment to determine if it is worth it.
Maintaining a refinished tub is crucial to ensure it lasts a long time. Without proper care, you will find it is quickly damaged.
Think about your renters and what your turnover rate is before you decide to reglaze or replace. Would your tenants properly care for the tub? How often would the tub be used?
One way to help protect your investment could be to include some type of clause in the lease about maintaining the tub.
If your property sees a high turnover rate, a replacement may be a better option. However, if you retain your tenants, you may fare better with reglazing services.
When it comes to saving your property’s tub, the choice is ultimately up to you. Reglazing your tub will help extend its life and boost the amount you can charge tenants as your property’s bathroom will look new and modern.
At Shiny Surface Restoration, we are here to help you. We reglaze tubs every day and can help evaluate your tub to determine if it is worth saving – we can tell you, in most cases, it is! Reach out to our team today to have your tubs reglazed and to save money as you won’t have to replace them.