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Part 2: Are Brookland Residents Making Unauthorized Changes to the Exterior of Your Rental Property?

Young Brookland Resident Measuring the Trellis on an Outdoor PatioWhen residents move into a new rental home, one of the first things they usually do is put in decorative elements. This urge to personalize their rental home sometimes includes the exterior of the house too. Many Brookland property owners want their residents to maintain the landscaping to some degree, and quality residents are willing to do so. Even if they don’t actually own the property, they also like to be proud of their home.

However, things can go wrong fast when your residents want to make changes to the home’s exterior. As the owner, your residents might ask permission to make changes like planting new plants or trees in the yard, creating new flower beds, or turning a part of the yard into a vegetable garden. Other exterior changes that residents may ask for include new light fixtures, exterior doors, or even replacing the color of the house itself.

You might consider allowing them to make certain changes particularly if they are willing to pay for it themselves. However, it’s essential to remember that not all changes are for the good. If the resident’s workmanship is of poor quality, that could seriously reduce your property values and your capability to rent the home in the future.

You can always ask them to revert the property back to its original state, but if sod has been disturbed or plantings moved or changed, this might not be possible. Future residents might not want to deal with the upkeep involved in a vegetable garden as much as your current residents, and it is things like these that make prospective renters pass your property over for one with less maintenance. If your rental property is located within a homeowners’ association, there might be additional permissions and restrictions you must adhere to before changes are approved.

If residents go ahead and modify the exterior of your Brookland rental property without your consent, there are appropriate next steps you will need to take. But, what do you need you to do? You can charge them for any repairs required and then hire someone to fix it or you can try to make your residents repair it. Nonetheless, your best choice is to get a property management company that can not only consistently supervise your properties for you but also handle unauthorized changes as they occur.

At Real Property Management DC Metro, we know the hassles that come from unauthorized changes to your property. We are committed to safeguarding your investment, and that means making sure your residents understand what unauthorized changes are and the consequences for doing them. Our property maintenance programs are devised to maximize the potential of your investment while minimizing costs. For more information about our property management services, please contact us online or give us a call at 202-269-0303 today!

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