Tenant “Improvements”: When Residents Can Make Things Worse.
The best residents for any rental home are those who care for the property as if it were their own. But sometimes, residents may need to customize a rental home a bit too much. They may want to make improvements to the rental home by themselves. Or they try to make repairs themselves when they damage items.
On occasion, personal satisfaction or artistic aesthetics motivate tenants. Other times, it is the fear of paying for repairs. However, residents who take improvements and repairs into their own hands are usually doing so without the proper knowledge of the repair scope. Or the permission or knowledge of their landlord.
The problem with tenant “Improvements”.
The problem with residents making improvements or repairs themselves is that there is no guarantee that they know what they are doing. If they have little or no experience with home remodeling and maintenance, any improvements they attempt to make could make things worse.
Certain permanent “improvements” go well beyond the ordinary, particularly in the case of broken or damaged items. Residents sometimes try and cover it up by either “fixing” it themselves or outright hiding the problem.
Arguably, ignoring or badly repairing small things may not matter too much. But when it comes to the structural features, plumbing or electrical systems, windows, and doors, the issue is more complicated. Neglecting to report damage or residents trying to patch things up themselves could later lead to expensive repairs.
Why “Improvements” do not always work out as intended.
For example, if a resident tries to replace a faucet or cracks an exposed pipe, a leak could start underneath, out of sight. Even a small leak may create the perfect environment for moisture to become trapped and for rot to develop in the walls of the home. Over time, the flooring, walls, cabinets, and more could sustain serious water damage, leading to costly repairs.
Damaged exterior doors and windows also pose a severe risk to both residents and your property. If a window needs repairing and is improperly installed, the security of the home is seriously compromised. The home’s interior is also left exposed to the elements. And this may cause additional damage to interior walls, sills, and floors.
For this reason, it is important to encourage residents not to make improvements themselves. They are better off reporting any damage as soon as it occurs. If they understand that any reported damage will be handled professionally, they will be more likely to report incidents in the future.
How we can help.
At Real Property Management Premier, we excel at handling resident improvements and reports of damage in just this way. We manage resident expectations and take care of all necessary repairs promptly. Communicate the benefits to your tenants – Instead of trying to repair by themselves, it is much easier to let Real Property Management Premier do it for you. Professionally managed repairs go a long way and avoid larger, long-term problems.
Our property management professionals have the necessary knowledge and required experience. Look no further than Real Property Management Premier. Contact us online or call 954-800-4433 and ask our property managers about our services in detail.