My son is getting his own personal residence ready to sell. I’m sitting there watching him remove carpet, cut it into strips, roll them up and carry them out.
I was feeling this nagging feeling that “something is not right”. Then it hit me. The backing of the carpet is a solid light, almost white color. Solid. Not a speck or spot on it. I’ve never seen used carpet with clean backing before. 10 year old house, 3 dogs living there, not an obsessive housekeeper (although not a slob), and there is not a single stain anywhere on the carpet. There is no 1/2 thick layer of dirt under the pad. The pad doesn’t stink. There is not one stain on the sub floor.
And the difference is … owner occupied and not a rental.
Every time I’ve changed carpet in a rental, it is disgusting. Massive stains on the carpet backing, dozens of moisture stains on the sub floor, reeking carpet pad, and a substantial layer of dirt underneath the pad. I don’t have tenants who appear to be slobs, but they are sure hard on carpeting.
As I remove carpet from the rentals, I am replacing it with wood or Allure, and hoping that works out. At least I won’t have to be grossed out by the carpet any more.