As with all other things, there is a lot of information that must be absorbed when it comes to pruning the trees at your Southwest Waterfront rental property this fall. Most property owners know that pruning is an essential part of keeping your rental property’s landscaping and plants healthy. Pruning is also a necessary part of preventing damage to the property. With gathering as much knowledge as you can about the who, what, why, and how of fall pruning, you can ensure that this critical seasonal task is being done correctly by the right people every year.
Whilst the most intensive pruning, including tree and shrub shaping, should be done during the growing season, there are big assignments that need to be completed throughout the fall season. Removing dead or low-hanging branches, as well as any new growth that is obstructing doorways, driveways, or walkways, is an important part of rental property maintenance. This kind of pruning is about aesthetics and maintaining property value via curb appeal. By pruning away problematic parts of the tree or shrub, you encourage healthy new growth while keeping your plants strong for the upcoming winter.
Keeping trees and bushes trimmed is also an essential component of keeping your tenants safe. Dead branches pose a serious safety risk to tenants and other visitors. Should a dead tree fall on a tenant, a visitor, or even a neighbor, you could be held liable for any legal or medical costs. Overgrown trees and bushes can also be more of a risk during severe weather events if they cause damage to vehicles and/or the rental home. If an overgrown tree or bush falls and damages the house or the tenant’s personal property, you may wind up footing the bill.
Even if the tree or bushes do not fall, overgrown foliage can be the cause of other types of property damage. Bushes and trees growing near foundations, walls, or other structures can weaken the cement or brick. Roots can push up structures from underneath, cracking foundations amongst other things. Thick foliage also tends to draw insects and other pests, which can cause damage to the property or transmit diseases to your tenants and their pets. All of these are important reasons to make pruning back overgrown trees and bushes a vital part of your fall property maintenance.
The fact is, tenants can often be relied upon to work on basic yard maintenance, pruning is one task that you should not ask them to do. A tenant could kill your trees or bushes by not knowing how and when to prune properly. Their lack of understanding or the unfortunate results could end in even more expensive landscaping repair in the future. Tenants will also need a ladder and other equipment, but keep in mind that ladders are accountable for more than 164,000 injuries and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. As the Southwest Waterfront property owner, you could be held liable should any of your tenants injure themselves.
So, what would a real estate investor do in this situation? To prevent this kind of sticky situation, hire a Southwest Waterfront property manager. Real Property Management Washington DC is an expert when it comes to property maintenance, tenant relations, leases, and more. Our team of property management experts can take on any necessary fall pruning your property needs, making sure that it is prepared the right way and as economically as possible. To learn more about us and what we can offer property owners such as yourself, contact us online or call us at 202-813-9993 today.
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