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Stopping Hot Springs Tenant “Improvements” in Their Tracks

Hot Springs Tenant Taking Care of Some Home RepairsWhen keeping a Hot Springs rental property in tip-top condition, it’s necessary not to undervalue its exterior appearance. How a rental home looks on the outside can instantly influence its property values, not to mention the home’s curb appeal. It makes sense to manage the exterior elements of your rental home thoroughly and to anticipate your tenants help in keeping it looking excellent.

When your notion of a “nice” exterior contrasts from what your tenant fancies, problems can occur. Some renters aren’t content with simply maintaining their yard– they want to improve or add to the rental home’s exterior features as well. With do-it-yourself home improvements such a big hit right now, the possibilities of your tenants trying to make “improvements” with or without your permission is very high.

For example, your tenant may feel the need to change the patio umbrella in the rental home because they believe a pergola is better instead. While it may seem safe enough to let them create one in the backyard, this is a hotbed for permit violations, damage to the property, and even personal injuries. (If someone was harmed 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 renovations and threatening conditions in the yard.

The same rings true for 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 Hot Springs rental property. It is also essential to check on your property often, making sure that a sneaky tenant hasn’t brought matters into their own hands. Of course, this takes time away from doing other things.

That’s when you should pick up the phone and give Real Property Management Hometown a call. We deliver regular property evaluations designed to stop unauthorized tenant improvements in their tracks. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us online or by phone at 501-701-4702.

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