Real Property Management Sunstate

Preventing Do-It-Yourself “Improvements” Gone Wrong at Your Augustine Rental Property

Do-it-yourself home improvements have become the talk of the town nowadays. Reality shows and social media have also encouraged all kinds of individuals to try and remodel or repair the interior of their homes unassisted. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm isn’t just desired by homeowners, but among renters too. While landlords readily opt for a tenant who will take care of their property as if it’s their own, some renters can go too far. With a few proactive techniques, Augustine property owners can prevent unwanted tenant “improvements” and keep their rental homes in tip-top shape.

When it comes to doing home improvements, usually, the kitchen and bathroom are the targets. Countless notable videos show devoted do-it-yourselfers how to paint cabinets, repair faucets and hardware, and change light fixtures. Chic upgrades in these rooms also contain tile backsplashes and brightly painted walls. When fulfilled decorously, these kinds of minor remodels can present unique interior spaces.

The hindrance with this is that decorous interiors do nothing to add to your property’s value. Truth to be told, if your tenant does shoddy work, your property value could even go downhill. For example, if your tenant makes a decision to apply wallpaper in the living room, they could not only destroy the surface underneath but also create a wall-to-wall problem that will be expensive to fix.

Because taste in decor change from person to person, personalized interiors can also negatively affect your potential to have the residence rented by a new tenant. A unique accent wall in fuchsia may interest your current renter, but the next one may not feel its bright hue. Alternatively, if your tenant hurts themselves or damages the home’s plumbing or electrical systems, that will create a new set of problems. If ever they crack a pipe or incorrectly connect the fitting while changing a bathroom faucet, you could be cleaning up leaks and water damage that should not have been there to begin with.

While infrequent chores can and should be called for from a renter, overhauls or the remodeling of any of the household’s fixed elements should be discouraged in the lease. Another proactive plan is to implement regular property evaluations, something that Real Property Management Sunstate offers to all of our property holders in Augustine and the surrounding areas. We will closely watch your rental home, making sure the tenant is keeping the property in the right condition and expeditiously operating any tenant requests for improvements or repairs. Contact us online or call us at 877-373-8404 to see what we can do for you.