There are different methods of increasing the curb appeal of a rental property. But making sure that its level is maintained is a whole other matter, especially if you have a long-term tenant in your property. To be certain that the curb appeal of your Miami rental property is stable, one of the things you’re strongly advised to do is to get the help of your tenant. Maintaining the good condition of your property depends so much on the tenants you have. The best tenants are the ones who are conscientious enough that they also want the property kept in good shape. So, with the use of good communication and executing some simple strategies, you’ll be able to get and maintain better curb appeal for your Miami property– one tenant at a time.
Start with Your Lease
Clear communication of your expectations about property maintenance starts with the lease documents. It makes sense as this is the document that spells out what you’ve agreed upon, including what you expect from each other. All rental property owners want a tenant who will watch over their property. And even if you think your tenant is one of the good ones, it’s still important that you make it clear in writing. Make sure the document explains those expectations clearly. Many landlords will see to it that any mess that the tenant makes will be cleaned up promptly. But what if you could prevent those messes from being made in the first place? Let’s say you have a tenant who puts their vehicle in the driveway for vehicle maintenance. If they change the oil there, most likely, it would leave some oil stains behind. That wouldn’t look good at all. But if you can discourage them from making oil changes on the driveway, or doing any other messy jobs for that matter, then you’d be preventing the problem from ever occurring. No oil stains on the driveway mean that the front exterior of your property continues to be clean and attractive. So, by clearly listing which tenant activities are okay and which are not, you are starting off your tenant-landlord relationship well. There is a clear and mutual expectation for each other’s responsibilities from the onset, and that is a huge step towards collective success.
Encourage Cooperation
You can encourage your tenant’s cooperation in taking care of the property in other ways as well. Get to know your tenant a little bit. You may discover that they have the skill set that’s valuable to you. For instance, they could be a great help for your property’s landscaping. If your tenant has a knack for landscape maintenance or has a green thumb, you can enlist them to help out with the front yard. They can also pitch in to help with the other areas of the property. They may appreciate the fact that they have a say in the appearance of the rental house. With this additional investment they make, they are more likely to be willing to put in some extra effort to keep the place looking neat and tidy.
Offer Incentives
Another way to encourage your tenant to help you increase your property’s appeal is to give different kinds of incentives. If your tenant words well with their hands, then you can ask them to do the basic maintenance for the property in exchange for a discounted rental rate. Or, think of the alternative: for a bit higher rent, they can have a professional hired to do some of that work instead. Depending on who your tenant is, they may opt to pay more rent if it means that they don’t have to weed flower beds and mow the lawn every week.
No matter what method you and your tenant agreed upon, always remember to keep a close eye on exterior maintenance. As soon as you notice some issues starting to develop, offer encouragement and help to your tenant so you could solve them before they become a huge problem. Also, have frequent, positive communication with your tenant. This helps alert you if maintenance tasks were neglected or overlooked.
Finally, know that the best way to encourage someone to do something is to first display that same behavior. Show your tenant that you care about the property and they will, likewise, care for it too. When you schedule regular maintenance and updates or respond to repair requests promptly, these do a lot for your tenant’s motivation. They’ll willingly help keep your property’s appeal strong.
Would you like more information about increasing your property’s curb appeal? Give Real Property Management Dade a call at 305-501-1511! Our Miami property management professionals can offer suggestions and assistance with everything from property maintenance to tenant relations. Contact us today.
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