A major cost that rental property owners in Atlanta are often faced with is repairing damage caused by renters. Of course, requiring a security deposit can lessen that cost, but it might not always be enough. Our team at Specialized Property Management Atlanta put together some suggestions to help you prevent damages to your rental.
Check Tenant Rental History
When screening potential tenants, ask previous landlords about the condition the renter left their property in. A pattern of property damage is a red flag, especially if the tenant attempted to hide the damage or denied responsibility.
Advise Tenants on Reducing Potential Damage
Tenants may not necessarily know the best way to use appliances or how to care for a property so informing them about this in advance is a good idea. It may also help to keep an eye out when a tenant moves in or out so that the move does not result in scrapes or other damage.
Perform a walkthrough
When a tenant moves in, you can have them do a walk-through of the property and note any pre-existing damage. This way, you can know what damage they caused versus what was already there.
Establish Standards
Landlords should set out what behaviors are unacceptable from the start in the tenancy agreement so that tenants are aware of their responsibilities. This can include identifying activities that are likely to cause damage, such as smoking, burning candles, etc. Tenants should also be required to advise the landlord as soon as any maintenance is required or damage needs to be repaired.
Conduct Routine Inspections
This is important so that the landlord can identify damage as soon as it is caused and flag any needed repairs. It also means that the landlord can stop any activity that is causing the damage and minimize any further damage.
Pay Attention to Long-Term Tenants
Contrary to what a landlord might expect, long-term tenants can cause more damage simply because of the amount of time they have spent at the rental. Deferring needed maintenance can be an example of this. Regular inspections and conducting regular inspections and maintenance can protect a landlord in this situation.
Contact Specialized Property Management Atlanta
Perhaps the best way to prevent unnecessary property damage is to hire Specialized Property Management Atlanta. We keep an eye on your properties with routine inspections and maintenance. We’ll handle the property management so you can spend your time on the most important things in life.
