Residential property is one of the most common crimes that are committed by property owners. In fact, vandals target roughly 15% of American homes yearly. Vandalism, such as graffiti and smashed mailboxes, can cause significant damage to a rental home, but it also violates a tenant’s sense of security and community spirit, not to mention the potential detriment of property values. For these reasons, preventing vandalism must be the top priority for landlords and property owners.
Simple Safety Measures for Rental Properties
- Adequate exterior lighting. Vandals are drawn to dark areas, seeking to do their dirty work out of sight. Motion sensor lights are highly effective and energy-efficient options that tenants will appreciate.
- Secured fences with locked gates. To prevent vandalism at your rental property, install a secure locking gate with your fence. Vandals are usually looking for easy targets, so having to climb over a fence or get through a locked gate will go a long way towards deterring them from the area.
- Bushes or shrubs with rough bark, thorns, or pointy leaves. The added greenery will enhance your property’s appearance while presenting a difficult challenge to any unwanted visitors attempting to get overly close to the home.
- Good quality window coverings. Vandalism is a crime of opportunity; they usually only strike if they think nobody is home. Having the windows overlaid with blinds or drapes will raise doubts about whether or not someone is home, especially if a light or two is left on at all times. It just might convince them to look for another target.
Conclusively, if vandals do strike, it’s important to clean up the mess as soon as possible. Swiftly painting over graffiti, repairing broken glass, and addressing any further damage right away may discourage a vandal from returning.
Following these simple guidelines can prevent your rental home from becoming an obvious target for vandals. At Real Property Management Affinity, we suggest full-service property management, which involves regularly monitoring your properties in Collierville and nearby and arranging for repairs and maintenance when needed. If you would like more details on how to safeguard your home, please contact us online or by 901-443-0001 today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
