You’re a real estate investor in Texas and want to choose the best floors for your rental property. But after speaking to friends at your local REIA group, you get five different opinions.
Which one’s best for you? We’ve got you covered.
When making your choice, it’s best to consider the type of rental property, its usage, and your return on investment. There are plenty of options that will help you save money and get a good return while holding up to tenant use.
Here is our advice for the best flooring for investment properties, whether they’re long-term or short-term rentals.
Top Flooring for Long-Term Rentals
For regular rental properties, whether single-family or multifamily, we recommend luxury vinyl and/or porcelain tile.
Luxury Vinyl Appeals & Endures
For higher-end properties and Class B areas, luxury vinyl or rigid core flooring will look better, last longer and attract better renters. If you buy a luxury vinyl product that is waterproof, it will also hold up better to spills, wear and tear, and pets.
Get wood-look luxury vinyl planks or luxury vinyl tile for a look that will appeal to today’s renter and for good ROI overall.
An Updated Classic: Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is also a great choice for rental homes in the humid, subtropical climate of Austin and Texas and in Class C areas. Not only is it waterproof, it’s also highly stain-resistant and fairly low maintenance. Best of all, it’s durable enough to last 50 years with the proper care.
You can even get porcelain tile with a wood look for an updated style. Otherwise, classic square tiles work well in an entire unit or in moisture-rich areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Top Options for Short-Term Rentals
Are you buying investment property to rent out on Airbnb or VRBO? Considerations for flooring are slightly different for these types of properties.
You want to appeal to your target guest, while also keeping in mind the type of home and the market it’s in when choosing flooring.
Here are our top flooring recommendations, based on the type of vacation rental property:
Beach Homes or Pool Homes
If sandy flip-flops and wet beach towels are the norm for your guests, you’re going to want flooring that holds up well to water, kids and sand. For these homes, we suggest waterproof luxury vinyl or porcelain tile.
Tile is a classic standard in these markets because of its durability and low maintenance. Luxury vinyl tile or planks that are waterproof are also great choices for their aesthetic appeal and moisture resistance.
Hill Country Cabins
What else would you use in a country cabin but wood-look flooring? Engineered hardwood flooring or luxury vinyl plank are the top two choices for this type of home and are good at carrying the country theme while keeping costs down. Make sure your flooring product offers a good warranty for the best return. There are guests who prefer cabins with carpeted bedrooms, especially in the winter, but we think you can get a similar feel with wood-look floors and plush area rugs.
Metro or Suburban Homes
The world of flooring is yours in the city or suburbs and your choice can depend on whether you’re going for a modern metro look or a family-friendly home. Luxury vinyl plank will work well in either of these settings while offering a great return on investment.
Tax Considerations
Don’t forget there may be tax benefits if you’re outfitting a luxury STR or multifamily units. Flooring in a rental property may be considered a capital expense and could be depreciated on your taxes. This is over the life of the product or up to 27.5 years for permanent flooring (tile, hardwood or luxury vinyl) vs. only 5 years if it’s flooring that can be easily removed (carpet). Please check with your CPA for current rules and potential benefits for your situation.
Which will you choose? If you’d like help from one of our flooring professionals or need a quote, contact our specialists at Flohr.
Send an email or call us by phone at 512-458-4900.
