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

Residents often add decorative elements when residents first move into a new rental home. This urge to personalize their rental home sometimes involves the home’s exterior as well. Many Orlando property owners expect their residents to preserve the landscaping to some extent, in which quality residents are happy to do so. Residents like to take pride in their home even if they don’t actually own it.

Nonetheless, once your residents want to make changes to the exterior of the home, things can go downhill fast. As the owner, you could get requests from residents who want to implement changes like creating new flower beds, planting new trees or plants in the yard, or turning a portion of the yard into a vegetable garden. Other alterations to the exterior that residents may ask to include new exterior light fixtures, doors, or even changing the color of the house itself.

You might be considering just letting them make certain changes, especially if they are willing to pay for it themselves. However, you have to remember that not all changes are good. If the resident’s workmanship is of poor quality, it can seriously influence your property values and your ability to rent the home someday.

If sod has been disturbed or plantings moved or changed, asking your residents to put the property back the way it was when they first arrived may not be possible. Future residents might not want to deal with the upkeep of a vegetable garden entails as much as your current residents, and it is things like these that make would-be renters choose another property with less upkeep. If your rental home is in an area with a homeowners’ association, there may be limitations and additional permissions that you must heed before changes are allowed.

If residents go on making changes to the exterior of your Orlando rental property without your permission, you have to take the appropriate next steps. But, what do you need to do? You can charge them for any repairs needed and then hire somebody to fix it or you could try to make them do it themselves. Although, your top option is to employ a property management company that can both constantly monitor your properties for you and deal with unauthorized changes as they happen.

At Real Property Management South Orlando, we know the hassles that can come from unauthorized property changes. We are committed to protecting your investment, and that entails making sure your residents realize what unauthorized changes are and the consequences for making them. Our property maintenance programs are designed 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 407-982-2000 today!