Do-it-yourself home improvements are gaining ground with different kinds of people right now. Much of these are brought about by the influence of reality shows and social media encouraging everyone to try and remodel or repair the interior of their homes on their own. Unfortunately, this trend is not only popular with homeowners, but among renters as well. Although landlords would like to have a tenant who will take care of their rental homes as if they are the actual owners of it, but some renters tend to take it a bit too far. With a few proactive strategies, Fort Worth property owners can prevent unwanted tenant “improvements” and keep their rental homes in good condition.
The kitchen and the bathroom are the usual targets of these home improvements. Thousands of viral videos on the internet show enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers how to paint cabinets, change faucets and hardware, and replace light fixtures. Trendy improvements in these rooms also consist of tile backsplashes and brightly painted walls. When done correctly, these kinds of minor remodels can result in unique interior spaces.
The problem is that custom interiors contribute little to nothing to your property’s value. In reality, if your tenant messes up their attempts at home improvements, your property value could even plummet. 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 individual preferences are rarely universal, 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 as pleasing. Then again, if your tenant hurts themselves or breaks the home’s plumbing or electrical systems while they are doing the work, that generates an entirely new set of problems. If they happen to crack a pipe or incorrectly connect the fitting while replacing a bathroom faucet, you may be cleaning up leaks and water damage that otherwise would not have happened in the first place.
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 deliver regular property evaluations, something that Real Property Management Meridian extends to all of our property owners in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. We will keep an eye on your rental home, making sure the tenant is maintaining the property in good condition and promptly handling any tenant requests for improvements or repairs. Contact us online or call us at 817-678-8787 to see what we can do for you.
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.
