In Winter Park and the neighboring places, one of the most common crimes to occur to property owners is the vandalism of their residential property. In fact, roughly 15% of American homes are targeted by vandals each year. Vandalism, such as graffiti and smashed mailboxes, can cause expensive damage to the rental home, to the potential detriment of property values. But the cut goes deeper than that, it also undermines a tenant’s sense of security and community spirit. Because of these reasons, preventing vandalism should be given priority for landlords and property owners alike.
One effective solution to stop vandalism before it even happens is to install and maintain exterior lighting with the right coverage and intensity. Vandals are attracted to dimly lit areas; they prefer to do their dirty work without being seen. Motion sensor lights are an energy-efficient alternative that does not compromise on effectivity; tenants will surely appreciate that.
If your rental property has fences, you can also prevent vandalism by seeing to it that your fences have a secure gate that locks. Vandals like easy targets, so if they need to climb over a fence or bust through a locked gate just to get to their target, they would probably think twice. This would go a long way toward keeping them out of your property.
As a natural deterrent, think about planting bushes or shrubs with rough bark, thorns, or pointy leaves all around the property. The new greenery will also make your property look more beautiful as well as serving as a painful deterrent to any unwanted visitors having a go at getting too near to the home.
It may appear surprising, but another effective method to deter vandals is to install the appropriate kind of window coverings. Vandalism is a crime of opportunity; they usually choose to strike if they believe no one is in the house. Windows that are covered with blinds or drapes will make them doubt whether or not a place is empty. You can bolster up this strategy by making sure a light or two is kept on at all times. It just might divert them to look for another target that isn’t as risky or as difficult.
In conclusion, if vandals do strike, it’s essential to fix any destruction to your rental house right away. These sorts of ne’er-do-wells enjoy having their handiwork seen and fussed over. If the destruction isn’t set right, they may be motivated to come back and create an even bigger, “better” mess. You can firmly deter any vandals from coming back by painting over graffiti, repairing broken glass, and by attending to any desecration immediately.
By adhering to these simple tips, you can keep your Winter Park rental homes from becoming an obvious target for vandals. At Real Property Management Sunstate, you can benefit from our full-service property management including monitoring your properties on a regular basis and arranging for repairs and maintenance should that be needed. If you would like to learn more about home safety, don’t hesitate to contact us online or give us a call at 877-373-8404.
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.
