There are several ways to increase the curb appeal of a rental property. But making sure that its level stays up is a different story. Different things have to be done and kept track of, especially if your property is occupied by a long-term tenant. To help keep your Sudden Valley rental property’s curb appeal strong, one of the things you should do is to involve your tenant. Making sure that the property is kept in good condition depends heavily on the tenants. The best scenario would be to have residents who are also interested in keeping the property in tip-top shape. So, with the help of some simple strategies and good communication, you can improve and maintain your Sudden Valley property’s curb appeal — one tenant at a time.
Start with Your Lease
Clear communication of what you expect about property maintenance begins with the lease documents. This document, after all, should lay out everything you’ve agreed upon. This includes what to expect from each other. All rental property owners would be really glad to have a tenant who would take good care of their property. However, even though you think you have the best tenant, it’s important that you explain those expectations in writing. And make sure it’s easily understood. Many landlords will say that if the tenant makes any mess, then it should be cleaned up promptly. But what if you could have prevented those messes in the first place? There would be nothing to clean up! For example, what if your tenant parks their vehicle in the driveway and proceeds to do some vehicle maintenance? If they change the oil there, what do you think will happen? Chances are, it will leave an ugly oil stain behind. But if you can discourage them from doing oil changes on the driveway, or performing any messy job for that matter, then you’d be solving the problem before it even begins. No oil stain on the driveway means that your property will continue to have a clean and attractive front exterior. So, by making clear which tenant activities are acceptable and which are prohibited, you’re making sure that your tenant-landlord relationship is headed for success.
Encourage Cooperation
There are different ways to encourage your tenant to cooperate with keeping up the property. Learn more about your tenant. They may have skills that could benefit you and the property. For example, they could help with maintaining or improving the landscaping. If your tenant has a skill for landscape maintenance or if he has a green thumb, they could be very useful. You can enlist them to help maintain the front yard and/or other areas of the property. They may be glad that they get a say in what the rental house looks like. This additional agency they have will give them the incentive to put in more effort to keep the place looking nice and tidy.
Offer Incentives
Another way to encourage your tenant to help you increase your property’s appeal is to offer different kinds of incentives. If your tenant is naturally handy, think about offering them a discounted rental rate. They could enjoy this lower rate in exchange for them doing the basic maintenance on the property. Or, perhaps you can consider the alternative: hire a professional to do the maintenance work but charge a slightly higher rent. Depending on who your tenant is, they may choose to pay more rent if it means they don’t have to mow the lawn each week or weed the flower beds.
Whatever route you decide to go on, still pay attention to the exterior maintenance of your property. If there are issues that are starting to develop, offer encouragement and help to your tenant before they grow into bigger problems. Engage in frequent communication with your tenant and make sure they are positive conversations. This can help alert you if maintenance tasks are neglected or improperly done.
Finally, realize that when you lead by example, you encourage other people to follow you. So, if you show your tenant that you care about the rental property, then they will also grow to care for it too. For example, when you respond to their repair requests right away, or by simply scheduling regular maintenance and updates– these things boost a tenant’s motivation. They will gladly help keep your property’s appeal strong and stable.
Would you like more information on elevating your property’s curb appeal? Give Real Property Management Teyata a call at 206-861-5525! Our Sudden Valley property management professionals can offer suggestions and assistance with everything from property maintenance to tenant relations. Contact us today!
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