There are a myriad number of factors to know about pruning the trees at your Jamaica Plains rental property this fall. Almost all property keepers understand that pruning is an important part of ensuring your rental property’s landscaping and plants are healthy. Pruning is also a major part of preventing damage to the property. By knowing as much as you can about the who, what, why, and how of fall pruning, you can make sure that this vital seasonal task is being undertaken appropriately by the right people every year.
Although the most intensive pruning which includes tree and shrub shaping should be done during the growing season, there are essential responsibilities that need to be done during 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 piece 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 mandatory part of making certain your tenants are 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 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.
Granted that the tree or bushes do not fall, overgrown foliage can provoke other sorts 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 together with other things. Thick foliage furthermore frequently entices insects and other pests, which can provoke damage to the property or transmit diseases to your tenants and their pets. All of these are compelling components to make pruning back overgrown trees and bushes an essential period of your fall property maintenance.
Although tenants can all the time be trusted upon to execute basic yard maintenance, pruning is the only responsibility that you should not ask them to accomplish. A renter could kill your trees or bushes by not comprehending how and when to prune properly. Their absence of knowledge or wrong actions could evolve into more expensive landscaping repairs in the time to come. Renters will also demand a ladder and other equipment, but remember that ladders are behind more than 164,000 injuries and 36,000 deaths in the United States every year. As a Jamaica Plains property owner, you could be held liable should any of your tenants injure themselves.
So what’s a real estate investor to do? To circumvent being doomed to a problematic situation, hire a Jamaica Plains property manager. Real Property Management Boston tackles building preservation, tenant interactions, contracts, and more. Our group of property management experts can tackle any necessary fall pruning your property requires, ensuring that it is completed appropriately and as economically as possible. To learn more regarding us and what we can do for property owners such as you, contact us online or call us at 617-996-0708 today.
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