So many things must be factored in when pruning the trees at your Everett rental property this fall. The majority of property owners know that pruning is a requisite part of keeping your rental property’s landscaping and plants healthy. Pruning is also an important piece when preventing damage to the property. By genuinely recognizing as much as you can about the who, what, why, and how of fall pruning, you can guarantee that this critical seasonal task is being completed properly by the right people every year.
Whereas the most intensive pruning, including tree and shrub shaping, should be done during the growing season, there are important tasks that have to be accomplished during the fall season. Removing dead or low-hanging branches, on top of any new growth that is obstructing doorways, driveways, or walkways, is an essential 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 a significant reason for keeping your tenants safe. Dead branches pose a serious safety risk to tenants and other visitors. In the event that a dead tree falls 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 oftentimes 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.
Despite the fact that the tree or bushes do not fall, overgrown foliage can still be the reason for 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 matters. Thick foliage also leads to more insects and other pests, which can trigger damage to the property or transmit diseases to your tenants and their pets. All these possible scenarios are just some of the essential reasons to make pruning back overgrown trees and bushes an essential part of your fall property maintenance.
Yes, tenants can frequently be entrusted with carrying out 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 knowledge or poor outcome could result in even more expensive landscaping repair in the future. Tenants will also require a ladder and other equipment, but bear in mind that ladders are responsible more than 164,000 injuries and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. As the Everett property owner, you could be held liable should any of your tenants injure themselves.
If that’s the case, what then would a real estate investor do? To prevent the possibility of being put in a sticky situation, hire an Everett property manager. Real Property Management Commonwealth handles property maintenance, tenant relations, leases, and more. Our team of property management experts can handle any necessary fall pruning your property needs, making sure that it is done correctly 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 617-299-2342 today.
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