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

Do-it-yourself home upgrades are all the rage right now. Reality shows and social media have promoted the idea that everybody can try and remodel or repair the interior in their houses on their own. Sadly, this trend isn’t just popular with house owners, but among renters as well. While landlords appreciate a tenant, who will take care of their rental homes as though it had been their very own, some renters take it a tad too far. With a few proactive strategies, St George property owners can prevent unwanted tenant “improvements” and hold their rental houses in good condition.

When it comes to making home improvements, the kitchen and bathroom are the most common targets. Thousands of popular videos show enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers on 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. When done correctly, these kinds of minor remodels can result in unique interior spaces.

The concern is that customized interiors do nothing to add to your property’s value. If your tenant does a horrible job of their improvements, your property value could even go downhill. For example, if your tenant decides to install wallpaper in the living room, they could not only destroy the painted surface under but additionally create a wall-to-wall monstrosity that will be pricey to restore.

Because everybody has a different idea of what is good and what is not, custom interiors can also severely limit your ability to rent the home to a new tenant. An unusual decoration or two in fuchsia may entice your current renter, but the next one may not agree. 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 mopping up leaks and water damage that otherwise would not have happened.

Although slight upkeep jobs can and must be expected of a renter, repairs or the remodeling of any of the home’s permanent elements should be discouraged in the lease. One more proactive strategy is to conduct regular property evaluations, something that Real Property Management Southern Utah offers all of our property owners in St George and the surrounding areas. We will keep an eye on your rental home, making sure the tenant is keeping the property in the desired condition and promptly handling any tenant requests for improvements or repairs. Contact us online or call us at 435-673-4242 to see what we can do for you.