Keeping up with the maintenance tasks in your North Logan rental property is not as easy as it may seem. Other than keeping an eye on the inside, you also have to make sure you are not neglecting its outside appearance. The way a rental home appears on the outside can directly influence its property values, not to mention the home’s curb appeal. Which is why it’s relatively significant to take utmost care when managing the exterior elements of your rental home and to expect your tenants to do the same to make sure they are doing their part to keep it looking nice.
There are times when your concept of a “nice” exterior is different from what your tenant wants, and when that happens, issues can arise. Some renters do not accept whatever is there when they initially rented the place, especially the yard – sometimes, they want to alter or add the rental home’s exterior features as well. With do-it-yourself improvements becoming such a hit with renters, chances are your renters will most likely try and make “improvements” with or without your consent.
For example, a tenant of yours may decide on his own that a patio umbrella isn’t good enough and want a pergola instead. Although it may seem harmless enough to allow them to build one in the backyard, this is a hotbed for permit violations, damage to the property, and even personal injuries. (If someone was injured you may have a big legal mess on your hands, on top of everything else.) Broken sprinkler or gas lines, damaged siding, and poor workmanship can all create costly repairs and unsafe conditions in the yard.
The same goes for other popular home improvements, such as painting, replacing the garage door or adding a deck or porch. Unique personal preferences and/or low-quality remodeling lower property values, make it harder to rent it out. In a nutshell, it just isn’t a good idea to have tenants making changes by themselves.
The best strategy is to stop home “improvement” projects before they start. Create clear language within the lease to spell out the fact that tenants are not allowed to make permanent changes to your North Logan rental property. It is also critical to check on your property often, making sure that a sneaky tenant hasn’t taken matters into their own hands. Of course, this takes time away from doing other things.
That is the time when you should give Real Property Management Cache Valley a call. Part of our services is to conduct regular property evaluations intended to stop unauthorized tenant improvements in their tracks. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us online or by phone at 435-753-5200.
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.
