You don’t need to invest heavily to make your rental property landscape look stunning. Just a few tips and good choices will get you there.
As a rental property owner you want your investment to be attractive and well kept, but striking a balance between aesthetics and cost can be challenging. Attractive landscaping will naturally attract higher quality tenants. That’s why you need cost-efficient, low-maintenance ideas to help you get the most out of your rental property’s outdoor space.
Here are some questions to ponder before you take on your landscaping project. And, remember, you don’t have to break the bank to have a rewarding outcome.
1. Will attractive landscaping increase my property value and monthly rent?
Curb appeal is all too often seen as a bother more than an investment. But with low-maintenance landscaping and a long-term investment in a few enhancement will keep your replacement costs low and attract better tenants who will pay more to rent a well-landscaped home.
Most tenants will expect the property to be both attractive and functional. If you have a rental property in a high-end community, this expectation increases, along with the monthly rent you can charge.
2. How do you create outdoor space your tenants will love?
Landscaping that is tenant-friendly such as a grilling area, accommodations for pets such as solid fencing, durable grass and trees will serve you best and keep your tenants happy.
Creating an outdoor, communal area may require a bit upfront investment, but most outdoor spaces are easy to maintain and will definitely add to your property value.
3. Will your tenants be responsible for yard maintenance, and is that clearly stated in their lease?
Most cities have ordinances that residents are required to follow regarding the length of the grass, leaf/debris clean-up, such as leaves or tree limbs. If your rental property is subject to a homeowner’s association, the requirements can be even more stringent.
If your tenant is going to assume responsibility for landscaping maintenance, be sure they understand the needs of any specialty plants or grasses. Some lawns need to be mowed more often because of the type of grass. This should be clearly explained in the tenant lease.
If you offer a landscaping or property management service, such as Cousin James Management offers, you could consider wrapping that into the monthly lease amount. Remember, quality landscape not adds value to your investment, it also attracts the best of tenants.
Beyond landscaping
Besides landscaping maintenance, there are other reasons to consider the expertise of a property management company. Maintenance of appliances and inspections to ensure everything is running well is also another time-saver provided.
Cousin James Management has been in the property management busines for more than 25 years, so why not benefit from our expertise? No matter what you might need for your rental property investment, Cousin James Management is always there for you, day or night. Contact us to get more information.