You may have perceived that adding on at least a tree or two in your Utah County rental property’s landscaping can help boost your rental rate. And there is some suitable evidence to substantiate that perception. But on the flip side, it’s imperative to know that the type of tree you plant has just as much to do with increasing your cash flows. Not all kinds of trees are best in a rental situation.
The right question is whether planting fruit trees on a rental property is the best idea. Notwithstanding that there are no hard and fast rules about which type of tree is appropriate, mainly owing to the fact different trees grow better in different climates, it’s essential to take into account all aspects of fruit trees in question before making your final decision.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has great curb appeal. And a great piece of that curb appeal is keeping one or more lovely, shady trees in the yard. The best trees for a rental property are those that grow well in your climate, endow both visual appeal and shade, and are moreover manageable and easy to maintain. If that looks like a tall order, it’s all right. 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 likewise be perfect options for rental properties. These trees grow well, extend shade relatively quickly, and don’t need to have a lot of pruning from year to year.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Various Utah County property managers may assume that a fruit tree would be a nice feature in a rental house. And many renters enjoy the view of growing and eating fruit straight from the yard. However, unless your tenant is experienced in the care and maintenance of fruit trees and has the time to do the job right, fruit trees can be an unwanted burden. For various renters, the work that fruit trees need to have can be a serious problem, 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. Quite possibly, the top reason you wouldn’t intend to plant fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. A lot of fruit trees necessitate years of care and growth in preparation for producing fruit. The majority are moreover very picky with respect to heat, cold, watering amounts, and so on.
Fruit trees additionally need great pruning and fumigation to produce edible fruit every year, which a lot of people don’t really know much about. Additionally, fruit often attracts unwanted insects and rodents, which can be a whole new worry your tenant won’t appreciate addressing. As long as you or your tenant are willing to put in the time and effort that fruit trees need to have, it’s in all likelihood best to avoid them completely.
Fruit Trees in the Lease Documents
If you’re willing to accept the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, you definitely should include verbiage in your lease that clearly outlines your tenant’s obligations where those trees are concerned. It is not appropriate to assign landscaping maintenance to your tenant; they may not understand that this involves regular pruning and clean-up after fruit trees, which is a great deal of extra work. Hence, and if you aren’t planning to take care of the trees yourself, be certain 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 Utah County, we collaborate closely with rental property owners like you to help create nice, low-maintenance landscaping your tenants won’t mind keeping up. Contact us today to learn more.
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