Residents often add decorative elements when they first move into a new rental home. Occasionally, this desire to personalize their rental home also extends to the exterior of the house. A lot of League City property owners expect their residents to maintain the landscaping to a certain extent, and good residents are happy to do so. Residents like to take pride in their home even if they don’t actually own it.
But when your residents want to perform alterations to the exterior of the property, this is where things could quickly go awry. Residents might send requests to make changes like creating new flower beds, putting in new trees or plants in the yard, or turning a corner of the yard into a vegetable garden. Additional exterior changes that residents ask for may involve new exterior doors, light fixtures, or even changing the color of the house.
You might consider allowing them to make certain changes particularly if they are willing to pay for it themselves. On the other hand, keep in mind that not all changes are for the better. If the resident’s workmanship is of poor quality, that could seriously reduce your property values and your capability to rent the home in the future.
You can always ask them to revert the property back to its original state, but if sod has been disturbed or plantings moved or changed, this might not be possible. Future residents may not like— not as much as your current residents do, at least— the upkeep that a vegetable garden requires. And things like these are what makes potential renters pass your property over for one with less maintenance.
If your rental property is located within a homeowners’ association, there might be additional permissions and restrictions that you must adhere to before changes are approved. If residents go on making changes to the exterior of your League City rental property without your permission, you have to take the appropriate next steps. But, what must you do? You could charge them for any needed repairs and then get a professional to fix it or you could try to make them do it themselves. Nonetheless, the best choice for you is to employ a property management company that can consistently supervise your properties and handle unauthorized changes as they happen.
At Real Property Management Prestige, we know the hassles that can come from unauthorized property changes. We are dedicated to taking care of your investment, and that means ensuring that your residents understand what unauthorized changes are and the consequences for making them. Our property maintenance programs are designed to maximize the potential of your investment while minimizing costs. For additional information about our property management services, please contact us online or call us at 281-532-5455 today!
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.