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

There is a perfect reason why do-it-yourself home improvements are becoming more and more popular. Reality shows and social media have fueled the desire of more people to try and remodel or repair the interior of their homes by themselves. Unfortunately, this trend is not just appealing to homeowners, but among renters as well. Even though landlords actually want a tenant who cares for the home, but some renters take it a notch higher. With the implementation of proven strategies, Hazelton property owners can prevent unwanted tenant “improvements” and keep their rental homes in good condition.

The usual targets of these home improvements are the kitchen and bathroom. Thousands of these viral videos teach avid do-it-yourselfers how to paint cabinets, change faucets and hardware, and replace light fixtures. Trendy improvements in these rooms also include tile backsplashes and brightly painted walls. If the job is accomplished property, these kinds of minor remodels can result in unique interior spaces.

The real issue with these custom interiors is that they add little to nothing to your property’s value. The truth is, if your tenant does the job poorly, then your property value could suffer. For example, if your tenant decides to use wallpaper in the living room, they could not only damage the painted surface underneath but also display a complete eyesore that will cost lots of money to restore.

Because individual inclinations differ widely, custom interiors can also severely diminish your capacity to lease the home to a new tenant. An accent wall in fuchsia may attract to your current renter, but the next one may not find it as pleasing. On the other hand, if your tenant hurts themselves or breaks the home’s plumbing or electrical systems in the process, that creates an entirely new set of problems. If they manage to crack a pipe or incorrectly connect the fitting while changing a bathroom faucet, you may be cleaning up leaks and water damage that otherwise would not have occurred.

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 perform regular property evaluations, something that Real Property Management Magic Valley offers all of our property owners in Hazelton and the surrounding areas. We will keep an eye on your rental home, making sure the tenant is maintaining the property in the desired condition and promptly handling any tenant requests for improvements or repairs. Contact us online or call us at 208-734-4001 to see what we can do for you.