Do your tenants maintain granite countertops properly?

Question

I'm wondering about how tenants maintain granite countertops  - they need to be re-sealed every 6 months or yearly.

Do your tenants take care of them properly?

Do you maintain it for them - either re-sealing them yourself or having a maintenance person or service?

Do black granite countertops do better than other colors with respect to staining?

What's your procedure if the don't maintain them properly & you end up with stained granite countertops - complete replacement with tenant security deposit?

Suzanne Player · Answer

Maybe these things (HVAC/AC filter changes & granite re-sealing, testing smoke alarms) should all get done by the landlord together at the same time.  Tenants will only have to remember to hide their unauthorized pets twice a year.

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

just try to get tenant to replace the HVAC filters  LOL..

Account Closed · Answer

If you assume tenants do anything to mantain a prooerty, you are going about being a landlord the wrong way. It's your property and nobody loves your property like you do. Just build the cost of doing things like that into the rent and let the tenants live their lives. You will have much happier tenants and less turnover. Just do a "fresh up" every 6 months and they will think you actually care about them. It also gives your maintenance people an opportunity to make sure the tenants actually aren't destroying the place.

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

I think that is the right answer.. although I have to say i have granite counter tops in a few of my personal homes and I dont think we ever sealed them ..  Although one big slab I actually think is Marble  ..  I did spill red wine on my office desk.. My office desk is a custom built with a granite top and well its stained it :) so i keep my pen holder over the stain.

Christina M. · Answer

I sealed the granite once after it was installed. It was so long ago although I may have applied sealer twice and used very high quality sealer. Recent inspection of granite was late 2021 granite was as good as new after 8+ years.

I never asked my tenants to do anything? I turnover a very clean, updated, well maintained quality new unit that includes all repairs and maintenance in the rent.  I encourage my tenants to let me know immediately of a repair or maintenance item. So little things do not turn into big things. No questions asked. I have never had tenants take advantage.  I respect that it's their home and they respect it's my property. I also use a Realtor. It's a Team Effort and Tenants are key players in our success. Has it always been this way? No. After 26 years most of those memories have faded with a few still in the hall of fame; that we are still shaking our heads.

Christina M. · Answer

@Suzanne Player

Yes.  My Tenants take care of granite countertops. After 10+ years and 8+ years granite upon move out like new.

I sealed post installation and just used a granite polish on turnover.

I have installed the black granite (very sleek) as well as muted multi colored/patterns depending on cabinets, tile backsplash and kitchen floors. I like them to all compliment. I feel all the granite we selected is timeless - even though we have moved to quartz. No feedback on quartz. Except no sealing.

Sandy Schuppner · Answer

@Suzanne Player

I installed quartz instead of granite. Then you get the benefits of granite without the sealing issues.  I shopped around and found a place in the Milwaukee area that had quartz for a similar price to some granite.  I really like the result, though I couldn't get the vains look.

Austin F. · Answer

I'm pretty happy if my tenants take out the trash every week...

Debbie C. · Answer

@Suzanne Player

I do have granite in kitchen and baths at sfh, after installation high quality sealer was applied. It has been about 7 years and the original sealer is still as good.

I did have a repair on a granite vanity this last turn, the tenant dropped something on it and it had a chip the size of a nickel out of it. I had a professional come and repair it, cost was 200.00 and looks great, you cannot see where the repair was done. The tenant was charged for the repair.

I do inspections on my properties every 6 months, and encourage tenants to report any issues. I would pay for any re-sealing/maintenance for the granite, however, I would charge the tenant for damage they caused.

Curtis Mears · Answer

@Suzanne Player

Many of my properties have granite as does my personal house. I think my personal house was sealed 10 years ago when installed, but not since then. None of the properties have had any issues with granite. If I planned on resealing the granite, i would not expect tenants to do it. I would do it myself as it is easy to do.

Do your tenants maintain granite countertops properly?

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