1880 house, irreplaceable hard woods - should I put down carpet

[Ellen Feiss]

I have a 3 unit multifamily (1880) with the original wood floors. The floors are in good, not perfect shape. However, if they get destroyed, the original wood cannot be replaced. In my market, 95% of the applications i got were from people with pets. I choose people with pets who had excellent references. I also charge a pet fee of $35 per month, per pet. Both incoming tenants have well behaved dogs I have met, and one unit also has a cat. I could pay to put down large area rugs in both apartments to protect the floors. Or I could require them to buy area rugs and put this requirement in their "pet addendum" leases. i am leaning toward doing it myself and letting them pick the color. This wouldn't be wall to wall carpet but basic area rugs that cover most of the floor. I'm wondering if 1) experienced landlords think putting down some carpet is worth the cost to avoid refinishing later 2) advice on where to get decent low pile area rugs. There is an industrial carpet place near me with off cuts. 

Inherited tenants I am finally getting out ruined the floor in the apartment I'm moving into - $3k sand and refinish job. I guess they've been there 7 years and accumulated pet fees would have covered it - but still. I can only refinish these old floors a few times. I want to avoid doing it as much as possible. 

Many thanks 

[Bruce Woodruff]

My thought....if the old floors are that important...why the heck rent to people with pets? The easiest most sensible thing to do would to not allow pets. Problem solved.

If you absolutely must (for whatever reason) then I wouldn't bother with carpeting or rugs. Just let your floor take the wear. You can refinish several times, and if necessary, you can find some red oak or yellow oak, you just have to know where to look. It's really expensive though, so once again, why allow pets? Plenty of good renters without pets out there (or just cats).