If you own Gainesville rental properties, you might have had to decide for or against installing ceiling fans in some or all of the rooms. This question can be difficult to answer because many landlords know that some tenants can be hard on a rental home, increasing the risk of the ceiling fans being damaged. But despite that possibility, there are still many reasons for you to consider installing ceiling fans in your rental properties. You can easily settle the ceiling fan question if you know the pros and cons of doing so.
There are many advantages to installing ceiling fans in your rental properties. Possibly the most important benefit is that most renters want them. Some renters will not consider a rental home that doesn’t have ceiling fans in the bedrooms, if not the main living areas. Most of us do like good air circulation in our homes at night or when the room feels stuffy. For rentals that have multiple bedrooms and residents, having ceiling fans in each room lets each resident customize their level of comfort.
Aside from keeping residents comfortable, ceiling fans are more energy-efficient than central air. For areas that experience mild summers, a ceiling fan may be all your residents will need to stay comfortable. In hot climates, a ceiling fan helps improve an air conditioning unit’s efficiency, reducing the need to run the air conditioning year-round. If ceiling fans pull hot air up and out in the summer, in winter they push warm air down into the rooms. This lowers the strain on your HVAC unit, extends this system’s life, and cuts utility costs as well.
With all these advantages, there are also downsides to installing ceiling fans in your rental properties. One of the most common drawbacks is that ceiling fans can become noisy over time. When correctly installed, ceiling fans make very little noise. But over time, the blades can become unbalanced, which can then lead to unpleasant noises most renters do not like.
Another possible drawback related to ceiling fans is the lighting quality and overall look. Low-quality ceiling fans can make a rental home’s interiors look cheap or dated. In choosing quality ceiling fans, look for ones that are neither too big nor too small for space as this could turn potential renters away. Also, ceiling fans are usually a poor source of good light. Some ceiling fans have frosted lighting covers or exposed bulbs that can make a room either too dark or too bright. Although there are fans that offer multi-function lighting, these can also cost much more.
It is important to note that the potential for damage will always be present. Despite a renter’s best efforts, people or objects may hit the ceiling fan and damage the glass shades or the blades, rendering the fan inoperable. However, most landlords find that these rarely happen. Installing a ceiling fan of good quality often pays for itself by making the rental property easier to keep occupied.
Ultimately, the decision to install ceiling fans in your rental properties is one that only you can make. With all this information, that choice might be very easy. However, not all decisions related to your rental properties will be this easy, and you might want expert advice on some matters in the future. If that is the case, consider giving Real Property Management Stellar a call. Our Gainesville property managers can help you not only manage your properties more efficiently but also ensure that you are maximizing the potential of each one of your investments. Call us today at 706-864-5456 to find out how!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
