Do-it-yourself home improvements are all the frenzy nowadays. Reality shows and social media have given courage to people to go and try to remodel or repair the interior of their homes by themselves. Unfortunately, this craze isn’t just popular with homeowners, but among renters too. Even though landlords want a tenant who will care for their rental home as if it were their own, some renters take it a bit too far. With a few proactive strategies, Wexford property owners can prevent unwanted tenant “improvements” and keep their rental homes in great shape.
When it comes to making home improvements, the kitchen and bathroom are the frequent targets. Thousands of videos show aspiring do-it-yourselfers on how to paint cabinets, change faucets and hardware, and replace light fixtures. Trendy improvements in these rooms also incorporate tile backsplashes and brightly painted walls. When done correctly, these kinds of minor remodels can produce unique interior spaces.
The problem is that custom interiors give zero to add to your property’s value. If your tenant does a horrible job in the application of their changes, your property value could go down. For example, if your tenant decides to hang wallpaper in the living room, they could not only damage the painted surface underneath but also create a wall-to-wall eyesore that will be expensive to restore.
Because personal tastes vary widely, custom interiors can also severely restrict your ability to rent the home to a new tenant. A floor to ceiling paint job in fuchsia may appeal to your current renter, but the next one may not find it appealing. On the other hand, if your tenant hurts themselves or breaks the home’s plumbing or electrical systems in the process, that creates an entirely new set of problems. If they happen to crack a pipe or incorrectly connect the fitting while changing a bathroom faucet, you may be cleaning up leaks and water damage that otherwise would not have happened.
While minor maintenance tasks can and should be expected of a renter, repairs or the remodeling of any of the home’s permanent elements should be discouraged in the lease. Another proactive strategy is to perform regular property evaluations, something that Real Property Management Three Rivers offers all of our property owners in Wexford and the surrounding areas. We will keep an eye on your rental home, making sure the tenant is maintaining the property in the desired condition and promptly managing any tenant requests for improvements or repairs. Contact us online or call us at 724-804-8254 to see what we can do for you.
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.
