Sustaining damage on a rental property is a concern for most property managers. Simply put, knowing what happens all the time in a rental property can be difficult—which also makes it difficult to ensure the property stays damage free. Luckily, there are some very easy ways to ensure you get tenants who care about the property as much as you do. Here are the absolute best ways to prevent damage on your rental property.
Check tenants’ rental histories
One of the better ways to ensure your property doesn’t incur any damage is to check the rental histories of your tenants. Typically, a tenant’s rental history will be very telling toward their overall quality as a tenant. If you see that they have moved many times throughout the same area, this can indicate that they won’t make the best tenant. However, just to be sure, you should always reach out to their prior landlords.
Create rules in the tenancy agreement
Even if the tenants you find seem spectacular, it’s important to establish rules and regulations that you can use to justify your actions should any problems arise. The simple fact of the matter is that even if your tenants seem like the most wonderful people, you truly don’t know what goes on in your property. Consider having tenants sign contracts that include rules and regulations regarding damage.
Conduct routine inspections
One of the best ways to ensure no property damage occurs is to conduct routine inspections yourself. Doing so will help you assess trouble areas that are experiencing normal wear and tear. Furthermore, if you have the opportunity to regularly inspect the property, you’ll be able to tell approximately when the property damage occurred. Lastly, always remember to document any damage you see during your inspections. Doing so will help you remember what you need to fix and provide evidence if tenants claim the property damage wasn’t because of them.
Preventing damage on your rental property may be difficult, but it’s an extremely important aspect of protecting your investment. If you feel this job is not for you, consider hiring a rental property management company. These companies will make your life easier by serving as the middlemen between you and your tenants, which can take most of the stress away from any situation.