Landscaping maintenance-related decisions may be among the problematic decisions rental property owners must make. Many Brandywine property owners assume their tenants will be responsible for keeping the yard clean and attractive, but that might not always be the best course of action.
There are pros and cons to assigning landscape maintenance to your tenant in the same way that there are pros and cons to taking care of it yourself (or hiring outside help). Take a closer look at the responsibility of landscaping maintenance from both sides. This will help you in choosing the best option for your property.
As the property owner, the simplest way to ensure property maintenance is done correctly is to hire a professional. There are clear benefits to taking this approach to landscaping maintenance for single-family residential homes. For example, you won’t need to worry that your tenants will mistreat or neglect the lawn, trees, or other plants.
With proper tending, your rental house will always have excellent curb appeal, helping preserve your property values. The availability of landscaping maintenance for your tenant might just become a big draw, helping you attract and keep higher-quality tenants who want the extra convenience and are willing to pay a little extra for it. Most of the time, as soon as your rental property is rented out, many states do not allow you to come on the property unless you give proper notice or it is outlined in the lease agreement. Even then, handling the landscape maintenance yourself is not a good idea.
To add to these concerns, if you plan to do the yard maintenance work yourself, you’ll need the time, skills, and tools to do the job right. It could be an issue, especially if you don’t live near your rental property. Also, the time you spend caring for your property’s yard might not be the best way to go about it.
Effectively managing your Brandywine rental property includes careful consideration of landscaping maintenance. While hiring a professional landscaping company may seem like an added cost, it can significantly enhance your property’s aesthetic appeal and overall value. Failure to account for landscaping expenses in your initial calculations could strain your monthly cash flows. Finding a balance between affordability and quality in landscaping services is often challenging. Still, a resourceful property manager can offer a list of providers, some of whom may extend discounted rates.
An alternative and popular approach to landscaping maintenance is assigning these responsibilities to your tenants. This arrangement presents numerous advantages. By delegating tasks such as lawn mowing, bush trimming, and weed control to your tenants, you save time and reduce expenditures. Long-term tenants in single-family homes often bring their tools and experience, capable of ensuring satisfactory yard upkeep. This not only eases your workload but also allows you to allocate resources to other critical aspects of property management.
However, not all tenants are willing or able to live up to landscaping responsibilities. If you entrust yard maintenance to your tenant, you risk severe damage to the yard. Abuse or neglect may lead to dead or dying plants. Your property frontage could quickly become a neighborhood eyesore. Not only that, but a corresponding reduction in your property value could also result. Consider also that if your tenants don’t already have a lawnmower or other tools, buying them could present a severe problem. Many tenants don’t want or can’t afford to invest in expensive lawn care equipment.
Also, they may not know how to use such tools safely. If you decide to provide tools for them, you could create a situation where the tenant injures themselves, breaks or damages your landscaping equipment, or both. These might result in unwanted legal problems unless careful steps are taken.
Finally, deciding who will handle your Brandywine rental property’s landscaping depends on your situation. Weigh all the pros and cons and be realistic about your availability and budget so that you can come to an arrangement that benefits both parties.
If you need some advice on handling landscaping for your rental property or would like someone else to take care of it entirely, contact Real Property Management Gold. You can reach us online or call us at 301-392-2172 for more information.
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