You have probably been told that having a tree on your Raleigh rental property’s landscaping can help boost your rental rate. And there is, indeed, some good evidence to support that claim. But what is not often mentioned is that the type of tree you plant has as much to do with increasing your cash flows. Not all kinds of trees will be appropriate for a rental situation.
The real question is actually if it is a good idea to plant fruit trees on a rental property. While there are no hard and fast rules about which type of tree is best, it is important to consider all aspects of fruit trees in question before you finalize your decision, especially since different trees grow better in different climates.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has great curb appeal. And a big part of the curb appeal is usually one or more beautiful trees in the yard. When choosing trees for a rental property, choose those that grow well in your climate, have visual appeal, provide good shade, and are also easy to maintain. It may seem like a tall order but it is actually not that hard to find. Trees that fit the bill in many parts of the country include evergreen arborvitae, spruce, flowering dogwoods, and maple trees. Other great options for rental properties are oak and desert willow. These kinds of trees grow well, offer good shade after a short period of time, and don’t need a lot of pruning from year to year.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Some Raleigh property managers may recommend planting a fruit tree to increase the appeal of a rental house. There are also renters who like the idea of having access to fruit straight from the yard. But if your tenant has no experience in taking care of fruit trees, or has the time to maintain them properly, fruit trees can become an unwanted burden. Many renters opt not to apply for or stay in a rental that has fruit trees as the work they require can be a big drawback.
Since the trees that go well with rental properties are low-maintenance, that means fruit trees are off the list. A probable big reason for not planting fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. Typically, fruit trees require years of care and growth before they bear fruit. Some are also sensitive to heat, cold, watering amounts, and so on.
Fruit trees have to be pruned and fumigated regularly if you want them to bear good fruit every year, and most people don’t know much about this. In addition to that, fruit often attracts unwanted insects and rodents which can be a problem your tenant would prefer not to deal with. Unless you or your tenant are willing and able to dedicate time and effort to caring for fruit trees, it is probably best to avoid them.
Fruit Trees in the Lease Documents
If you are willing to take on the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, you need to be very clear in your lease about your tenant’s obligations where those trees are concerned. It is not enough to assign landscaping maintenance to your tenant; they may not realize that this includes regular pruning and clean-up after fruit trees, which is a lot of extra work. If you don’t plan to take care of the trees yourself, make sure you 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 Raleigh, we work with rental property owners like you to help create beautiful, low-maintenance landscaping your tenants won’t mind keeping up. Contact us today to learn more.
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