Whether you own or rent your South Jordan home, we all wish to feel easy and comfortable in our living space. For many, this involves adding decorative elements that help to personalize a home. But, as a renter, your decorating can have a great effect on how much of your security deposit you regain. Some leases clearly state what kinds of changes you, the tenant, can make and what you would need permission from your landlord to do.
However, if things aren’t fully clear, you may be confounded about where the line is between what’s allowed and what isn’t. And if you aren’t really sure, you may, by accident, do something that might mean getting less of your security deposit back than you want. Let’s consider a few common décor items that could cost you – and how to avoid being charged for repairs.
Interior Paint
It’s the number one question renters ask: Can I paint the interior of my rental house? And it makes great sense why this is such a very common concern. Changing the paint color is one of the simplest ways to personalize a room or entire home. Although provided that your lease states that you can paint your rental house, make sure to check with your landlord first.
Well, most leases state that you ought to return the home to its original condition. Even if it doesn’t mention paint anywhere else within the lease, it’s necessary to be clear that this includes the paint color on the walls. Your landlord can legally withhold funds from your security deposit to repaint the house if you’ve changed the wall colors and don’t put it back before you leave.
Wall Damage
Another top reason renters don’t collect their entire security deposit back is holes (or other damage) in the walls. In the case that you decorate your home, you may not seriously consider how your landlord will react to the damage left after including framed artwork, mounted televisions, or other wall-mounted décor items. Even a few nail holes in a wall can result in a security deposit deduction, and the cost of repairs goes up the bigger the holes that are left behind.
To refrain from losing your deposit, try planning your décor with the end in mind. Make use of nail-free hangers or keep away from hanging things on the walls at all. Large artwork or televisions can work just as appropriately and beautifully on an accent table or cabinet and won’t leave wall damage behind.
Floor Damage
One last point, make sure to protect your floors as you decorate. Heavy furniture and other articles can gouge, scrape, and otherwise damage floorings like wood or laminate, and crack or break the tile. If you have hefty pieces you want to keep in your home, have someone you know help you move them, and add on protective material, like a blanket or moving pad, underneath to keep floor damage to a minimum. If you really have to move your furniture around numerous times, use some felt padding for the bottom of your furniture to make rearranging your décor easier and less likely to cause damage.
Doesn’t matter how you decorate your rental home, it’s vital to deal with it with an attitude that, one day, you will most likely be moving out. Once that day comes, the less you need to do to restore the home to its original condition, the more likely you will be able to get your full security deposit back.
Is moving to a new rental home on your to-do list this year? Real Property Management Wasatch could have the suitable one for you! We definitely have quality rental homes for every taste and budget, so check out our listings today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
