How to Tenant-Proof Your Rental Property

 

Investing in real estate is a brilliant move for your future. Regardless of your profession or the economic trends, leasing a property provides you with a constant income. Besides, you can sell that property if you wish to do so. However, having tenants is not as easy as it may seem. It's not just about having a good relationship with them but also about protecting the rental. As a homeowner, you invest a lot of time and money in a property. But since tenants change homes pretty often, they don't take that much care of the rental. So here are some ideas on how to tenant-proof your rental property.

Protect the floors

The floors of a property are always subjected to the most wear. This is unavoidable even in your own home. Nevertheless, as a homeowner, you are a bit more careful. So here’s how you can make your property’s floors tenant-proofed.

1)No hardwood floors

While it's true that hardwood floors look very good and are preferred by most homeowners, they should be avoided in a rental. The reason for this is that they scratch easily. Therefore, when tenants move in and out of the property, you need something that's going to endure. A good choice would be bamboo or faux wood flooring. These options are cheaper and less sensitive - plus, they look good.

2)No carpets

To tenant-proof your rental property, you should avoid carpets. The main reason is that they stain easily and sometimes not even professional cleaners can help with that. And it would be too expensive to change the carpets with every new tenant. Besides, they retain smells and pet fur that can be difficult to remove.

 

However, if your rental property already has hardwood floors, you should cover them for protection. In such cases, go for dark-colored carpets that can hide the stains. And choose low-grade rugs that are cheap to replace if necessary.

3) Impose felt pads

You should require your tenants to place felt pads on all their furniture. This will protect the floors from all the scratching. To make sure this rule is applied, you can add it to the lease agreement. Moreover, you can stipulate that this is a requirement for the security deposit to be reimbursed.

4) Set a good example

Don't expect your tenants to be aware of all the things that can damage the flooring of a property. However, if you set a good example, they might follow your lead. Before showing off the rental, make a tiny investment in indoor and outdoor doormats, including a shoe rack. When you present the property to potential tenants, please wipe your feet on the doormats, then take off your shoes and place them on the shoe rack. This will make them aware of the no-shoes policy. Of course, this doesn't mean they will comply with it, so you can also add a clause in the lease agreement.

 

Protect the walls

Walls are the second most important thing to consider when you tenant-proof your rental property. If you have to repair and repaint them every time you get new tenants, you will lose more money than you make. Here are some ideas on how to protect the walls.

1)Consider the type of paint carefully

If you are leasing the property for the first time and are on a budget, you can use the cheapest option: white paint with a flat finish. However, be advised that you will likely have to repaint when your tenants move out. Stains on the walls are unavoidable. Just think of the grease in the kitchen or kids with dirty and sticky fingers. The best solution for this is to choose a glossy finish because it enables you to wash the walls. It's indeed a bit more expensive, but it will save you the money of repainting in the future.

2)Set some rules

Every tenant wants to feel at home. Thus, they are eager to start by decorating a rental apartment to fit their style and preference. However, if you don't want to have drill holes all over the walls at the end of the lease, you should explain the dos and don'ts. For example, you can let them use a few small nails for hanging pictures or artwork because they are easy to fix. But it would be best if you didn't allow them to mount their TV on the wall since it will leave huge holes. You can also add this to the lease agreement.

Protect the rest of the property

While it’s true that the floors and walls are subjected to the most wear, there are other things to consider. So, here are a few things you shouldn’t skip when you tenant-proof your rental property.

1)Your personal belongings

Of course, you have the option of leasing an empty property, but that entails finding long-term tenants. And this is harder to come by. Besides, usually, people rent properties that they used to live in at some point. In this case, you should think about your personal belongings, like pieces of furniture and other things you left behind.

 

Suppose you have valuable furnishings or other personal belongings that you don't want your tenants to damage. In that case, it would be good to rent a self-storage unit. And don't worry, this option is much cheaper than replacing those valuables. Nevertheless, if you want to rent a self-storage unit for storing antiques, wooden furniture, or artwork, you should know what to look for. In such cases, the storage conditions are essential because humidity and extreme temperatures can damage those items.

2)The installations

Sometimes people forget about the things that are not visible, like the electrical or plumbing installation. But if those installations get damaged, the security deposit won't cover even half of the repairs. Therefore, find some experienced professionals to do regular maintenance and inspection work. This will help you avoid unexpected costs in the future. Not to mention that your tenants will appreciate it as well.

Conclusion

While leasing a property can be very beneficial for your future finances, you should ensure that it doesn't cost you more than you gain. Finding a good tenant is never easy, and sometimes even they have accidents and can damage things. Nevertheless, to avoid as much damage as possible, you can use these preventive measures to tenant-proof your rental property.

Meta description: If you’re thinking about leasing your property, you should also look into protecting it. So, here are some ideas on how to tenant-proof your rental property.