You may have discovered that adding at least a tree or two in your West Jordan rental property’s landscaping can help boost your rental rate. And there is some definitely good evidence to confirm that opinion. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to be aware that the type of tree you plant has just as much to do with increasing your cash flows. Not all kinds of trees go well in a rental situation.
The correct question is whether planting fruit trees on a rental property is an excellent idea. Conceding that there are no hard and fast rules about which type of tree is ideal, most importantly on the account that different trees grow better in different climates, it’s vital to go into all aspects of fruit trees in question before making your final decision.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has fantastic curb appeal. And an important part of that curb appeal is adding in one or more appealing, shady trees in the yard. The best trees for a rental property are those that grow well in your climate, give both visual appeal and shade, but also are worry-free to maintain. If that appears like a tall order, relax. Trees that fit the bill in many parts of the country include evergreen arborvitae, spruce, flowering dogwoods, and maple trees. Oak and desert willow can similarly be the right options for rental properties. These trees grow well, bestow shade relatively quickly, and don’t really need a lot of pruning from year to year.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Most West Jordan property managers may imagine that a fruit tree would be a pleasant feature in a rental house. And plenty of renters fancy the thought of growing and eating fruit straight from the yard. But really, providing your tenant is experienced in the care and maintenance of fruit trees and has the time to do the job well, fruit trees can be an unwanted burden. For most renters, the work that fruit trees need to have can be a great burden, so much so that they may even choose not to apply for or stay in a rental that has them.
If the best trees for rental properties are low-maintenance, that excludes fruit trees altogether. In all likelihood, the key reason you wouldn’t wish to plant fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. Many fruit trees need years of care and growth before they can produce fruit. Several of those are further very picky concerning heat, cold, watering amounts, and so on.
Fruit trees likewise need excellent pruning and fumigation to produce edible fruit every year, which most people don’t really know how to go about. Furthermore, fruit often attracts unwanted insects and rodents, which can be a totally new problem and nuisance your tenant won’t want to be struggling with. Providing you or your tenant are willing to put in the time and effort that fruit trees do require, it’s perhaps the best option to avoid them altogether.
Fruit Trees in the Lease Documents
If you’re willing to accept the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, you must be sure to include verbiage in your lease that clearly outlines your tenant’s obligations where those trees are concerned. It is not suitable to assign landscaping maintenance to your tenant; they may not comprehend that this involves regular pruning and clean-up after fruit trees, which is a whole lot of extra work. Consequently, and if you aren’t planning to take care of the trees yourself, see to it to explain in your lease documents that the tenants need to care for the trees or hire a professional to do it for them.
At Real Property Management Wasatch, we team up and work with rental property owners like you to help create great, low-maintenance landscaping your tenants won’t mind keeping up. Contact us today to learn more.
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