Do-it-yourself home improvements are becoming more and more popular. Reality shows and social media have started the trend of DIY making just about everybody excited to try to remodel or repair the interior of their homes by themselves. The sad part is, this trend isn’t just popular with homeowners, but among renters as well. Although landlords would appreciate a tenant who will watch over their rental home with utmost care, some renters take it way too far. With a few practical approaches, Findlay property owners can prevent unwanted tenant “improvements” and keep their rental homes in excellent condition.
When dealing with home improvements, the kitchen and bathroom are the usual targets. A lot of these in-demand videos educate keen do-it-yourselfers how to paint cabinets, change faucets and hardware, and replace light fixtures. Trendy improvements in these rooms also include tile backsplashes and brightly painted walls. When done the right way, these types of minor remodels can end up in unique interior spaces.
The problem is that custom interiors do nothing to add to your property’s value. If your tenant does a poor job of their improvements, your property value could even 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. An accent wall in fuchsia may appeal to your current renter, but the next one may not find it appealing. On the other hand, if your tenant injures themselves or damages the home’s plumbing or electrical systems in the process, that creates an entirely new set of problems. If they manage to crack a pipe or incorrectly connect a fitting while changing a bathroom faucet, you may be cleaning up leaks and water damage that otherwise would not have occurred.
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 Clarity Team offers all of our property owners in Findlay 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 quickly attend to any tenant requests for improvements or repairs. Contact us online or call us at 567-200-2320 to see what we can do for you.
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