Comments on: How to Make Maintaining Your Investment Properties Easier

By: New Jersey Building Maintenance

New Jersey Building Maintenance — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:42:48 +0000

Thanks for the post. We are a property maintenance firm in New Jersey and there are many things home owners can do to make their job easier aside from hiring professionals.

By: Real Estate Vietnam

Real Estate Vietnam — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:34:11 +0000

Interesting post. You can often tell from the curb which landlords maintain their investment properties and which do not. As both an investor and a real estate agent, I am actually concerned more about the “deferred maintenance” of all the little items than the major ones. The dozens of minor repairs can be more concerning than the major repairs as it makes me question what else is wrong with this property that I can’t see.

Tina

By: Andrew Hafferman

Andrew Hafferman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:07:42 +0000

I have also found it hard to expect the tenants to take care of the lawn and shovel snow. I also agree with Mitch; employee relationships with tenants is risky business.

By: Mitch Dowler

Mitch Dowler — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:14:15 +0000

I would not want to pay a tenant to mow the lawn or do maintenance. Creating an employee relationship creates liability and your insurance carrier probably would not be happy. Let you tenant injure theirself while performing a service for the property and you have a nice little law suit.

By: mn homes for sale

mn homes for sale — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:15:42 +0000

Scott,

I too do not water any of the lawns. Really can be frustrating however when tenants agree per the lease to take care of the lawn and snow and then do a horrible job. I have found as a landlord you need to get used to the fact that you can’t expect people to take care of the lawn, etc with the same level of detail that you as the owner may.

By: Scott Ficek

Scott Ficek — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:48:38 +0000

You are right on. I never water any of my investment property lawns during the summer. In fact, many of my buildings don’t even have outside spickets.

My building in Crystal is like yours, I don’t think I cut the grass there for the entire month of July. Just goes brown.

Alternatively, when I get ready to sell the property, I plan to have that lawn and landscaping looking like my own personal house!!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:20:32 +0000

Hi,

I own a few rental properties around Lakeville, I was wondering what your view is on not watering the grass on rental properties. I found I can same money, like this past summer when it was really hot & dry for a long periods, however it did get very dry and looked dead (saved me from mowing though!)…your thoughts on not watering grass and do you do it yourself?

thanks,
-Jeff