One of your responsibilities as a landlord is to maintain a safe home for your tenants. When you make security a priority, by adding an in-house security system, you can often increase the amount of rent you ask for from a tenant.
But there are other ways to make a home more secure that uses what’s already available and may increase the value of a home in other ways. Landscaping is a great way to make a home look better and become more secure.
Light It Up
Install plenty of outdoor lights around the property. Putting some on a timer or a switch is fine but make sure a few are motion sensitive. If a would-be thief realizes a light will come on when they approach, they’re less likely to attempt to sneak up to a property.
Trim the Hedges
Bushes, shrubs, and hedges can unintentionally become great hiding spots for someone trying to come onto the property undetected. Keep them trimmed and good condition to prevent this. If your tenant is responsible for lawn maintenance, help them understand why it’s important to trim back the hedges and shrubs on a regular basis.
Put Up a Fence
Many tenants love a privacy fence. When built correctly and of good material, it can increase the value of a property. A six to eight foot fence will also deter dishonest people from trying to sneak in through the back. When paired with good lighting, it solves a lot of problems - and potentially gives you a good reason to increase the rent.
Create a Noisy Path
Adding gravel to entry ways, driveways, and other path areas not only looks nice but it makes noise. Not so much that a tenant is annoyed but enough that someone can’t sneak up to a home completely undetected. Change it out or add more on an annual basis to maintain the aesthetic and also so that’s as crunchy-sounding as possible.
Watch Those Trees Near Windows
While this might not be common, landlords with two or more story properties need to be aware that their second-story windows are vulnerable to unknown entries. Any trees around the home should be trimmed back so that no one can use the limbs as a way to reach a window. It’s not something an honest person might think of, but someone who wants to get in without anyone knowing will look for any opportunity, even if it means climbing a tree.
Keeping a well-maintained lawn attracts good tenants, makes a property more marketable, and yes, increases the security and safety of the rental and your tenants. If you need help keeping your rental maintained and secure, work with a property management company who knows how to get the job done. At ERA American Real Estate we can help you with all aspects of your rental business from security to marketing, tenant screening, and more.