WASHINGTON, DC – Selling your home at an acceptable price is a sticky proposition in the current economy, and as a result, more and more property owners are becoming landlords.
In fact, according to Floor Covering Weekly, the number of renter households has increased by 3.7 million in the last five years, while the number of owner households has dropped by 1.3 million over the same period.
Renting out your home can be an attractive option for the homeowner – and a good opportunity for home improvements.
One of the most dramatic ways to give your home a makeover is with a beautiful laminate floor. Carpet can show wear and stains, and replacing it with laminate flooring – which can realistically replicate wood and stone looks – can transform a room. That makes for a more attractive home, which justifies renting it out at a premium price.
“Whether you plan to be a long-term landlord, or if you’re just renting your home until the economy improves enough to put it on the market, laminate flooring can add value to your home,” says Bill Dearing, president of the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA). “A new laminate floor gives a room a fresh look, and it’s easy to clean and maintain.”
As you face the prospect of renting your home, you can rest assured that laminate flooring – known for its high durability – will stand up to even the most active renters. As any landlord will attest, you can’t be certain how careful renters will be in maintaining your home, so the fact that laminate flooring is stain, fade and scratch resistant gives the property owner peace of mind.
Installing laminate flooring also saves the homeowner time and money. It’s easy to install, so laminate flooring is a quick home improvement endeavor regardless of whether you plan to do it before putting your house up for rent or if you plan to turn it around while renters are in the house. And affordable laminate flooring is one of the best investments you can make with your decorating dollar.
You can be confident you’re installing quality laminate flooring by looking for the NALFA Certification Seal when making your purchase. The seal is testament that the product has performed well in rigorous tests conducted by independent, third-party laboratories. Those tests include everything from how well the flooring resists water, light and stains to whether it can be damaged when a heavy object is dropped. Find a complete list of NALFA-certified products at www.nalfa.com.
So become a landlord with confidence with a beautiful, durable, low-maintenance laminate floor.