Do you replace scratched glass stovetops at move out?

ADVICE PLEASE. Having a bit of an ongoing internal dilema. Our glass stove tops often get left like this at move out with small, various scratches. They are obviously permenant. It’s a damage, but I hate being wasteful with a working stove top. Plus they aren’t cheap. Would you replace?

We honestly leave them most of the time. If they work, they work. I guess it depends on what kind of property you’re at and your budget

I just replaced one just a little worse than this. It depends on the community and expectations of residents. We are a newer community, high end for our area. I’d have to replace it once they move in. That being said we did not trash it since it is still operational. It’s now an emergency back up.

Have this issue at my A+ property.
We replace and keep the old one for parts or back ups

You don’t get these out... it’s typically neglect from not cleaning and allowing build up between uses. Bill back. These tops with proper maintenance should last 15-20 years. This is neglect

I’m having the same issue. We have been replacing on average 3-5 monthly. I hate having to replace them at $450-$500 each due to scratches. We have been able to save a few with using BarKeepers Friend Cleaner.

Try a light sand and then buff it out. We are doing that and it works on scratches and cloudiness too. Get a buffer machine.

Use headlight cleaner on it. The type that restores headlights. Sounds crazy, but my housekeeper discovered it online and it works!

Try using bar keepers friend with a non abrasive sponge. This saves the majority of ours. If you do replace it, keep for spare parts or emergency backup. As well, if you don’t already at move in create a “Tip Sheet” for new residents how to care for their appliances. Go over it at move in with them.

I’m not sure where you’re located, but try Surface Experts. It’s a national company. The one I use in Atlanta area number is 470-523-4200. They may have something near you.

Burners having the scuffs is understandable, the scratches in between seems excessive and the resident needs to take better care in my opinion.

This stuff has saved hundreds of dollars!

These stove tops are problematic... tell residents not to use iron skillets for one and if you are cooking a sugary substance and it boils over it will cause pitting... these things are total junk... pretty to look at but not practical for use. You can shine them up but they are never the same after six months of daily use.. like I said total junk.

Cost is about $250 to replace and we do when they start to look like yours; often at resident expense due to neglect. We provide them with stove top cleaning instructions but if they choose not to follow them, you have permanent damage.

Search on YouTube
“Remove scratches on glass cooktop.” Instead of the drill I bought a car buffer and your tech will thank you for that.

Try this

I am intrigued by advice to charge back. Reminds me of auto lease nuances vs normal wear and tear.
This is normal wear and tear.

What’s your location? We use a company called Surface Pros that is able to get these out with no issues. I’m not sure what they use but it’s 100% effective

Bar keepers is amazing and you can use soft scrub with an SOS pad, I get majority of things off that most would replace for (even things that look like scratches). I’ve used baking soda as well but the soft scrub has worked wonders.

We have the same problem at my Tulsa property. We
Purchased this off of Amazon. You hook these up to a drill and it cleans those glass stove tops like new. No more replacing stove tops.

I hate to say this but to me, it would depend on the type of property. If you have a higher end, higher class property I would replace them. Lower end properties I would just take that scratch remover polisher and clean them and leave them. Couldn’t afford to replace them with each move out for the lower end or even mid end properties.

We do a buffer on ours, and charge for it at move out. Usually gets most of it out, and way cheaper than replacing

I mean....personally the community I live in has these and I loathe them.....even moreso because I'm the 1st resident in this unit -new construction. I clean after each use and still have slight scratches on surface. The properties I manage.....as long as the cook top is clean and oven .....you good

I saw a post before that shared they used car buffing compound and a hand buffer and it took the scratches out.

No there are resurfacing companies. It runs 100 to 150.

I’d be charging that as damage to the person moving out and then replacing it. Don’t forget to charge the parts AND labor.

I would say it depends on the price point & resident profile of your community. You have to do what is most cost-effective, both short-term & long-term. If not replacing is going to cost you leases & increase your vacancy loss, then you might be able to replace just the glass surface, not the whole appliance. Your on-site maintenance might be able to do it or can learn by watching the appliance repair tech do it once or twice. If this type of damage occurs in most or all of your move-outs & would not be a deal-breaker for most of your new leases, it's pointless to replace it everytime just to have it torn up again by the next resident. Maybe offer the replacement when necessary to close a new lease.

We do replace them. We leave the proper glass stovetop cleaning supplies for everyone who moves into the apartment. If they damage the stovetop we charge them the depreciated value to replace just the stovetop, not the entire stove. It is heartbreaking to have to pay for or charge for the new tops so we recently made the decision to start using the stainless steel stove with the coils instead, unless someone specifically requests a glass top.

We replace if they look this bad and charge the prior tenants, if applicable. If there was existing damage at move in, that was noted on their inspection - we charge for the prorated life left on the stove which we deem to be 5 years.
To elaborate on that, if there were a few minor scratches when the resident moved in, obviously we don’t go for the full cost but if the tenant blatantly neglected the stove top or scratched it to pieces, they need to pay for it. There’s a difference in a few minor scratches vs. ruining the appearance of the entire burner.

This, in my opinion, falls under asset preservation. To not replace it is very unfair to the next tenant who is likely paying more than the previous tenant since we are all focusing on rent growth...

Replace it and charge the tenant at least something. Make the care sheets as someone else recommended but tenants are still responsible for knowing how to care for common household appliances. They could Google this stuff if they really cared, but they don’t in a lot of cases. When people don’t care, they must pay the price.