You may have heard that you can boost your rental rate for your Spring rental property if the landscaping includes a tree or two. There is actually some good evidence that supports that. But you must also know that the type of tree you plant will also influence how much your cash flows increase. Not all kinds of trees, however, are suitable for a rental situation.
The big question, though, is whether or not planting fruit trees on a rental property is a good idea. There are no hard and fast rules about which type of tree is best, considering different trees grow better in different climates, but you have to consider all aspects of fruit trees before making your final decision.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has great curb appeal. And a usual part of the curb appeal is a beautiful shady tree in the yard. A simple criteria for the ideal trees for a rental property would be those that grow well in your climate, are visually appealing and shady, but are also easy to maintain. It may seem like a lot, but you don’t have to worry. Trees that fit the bill in many parts of the country include evergreen arborvitae, spruce, flowering dogwoods, and maple trees. Other good options for rental properties are oak and desert willow. These trees are easy to grow, offer shade after a relatively short time, and don’t need to be pruned yearly.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Some Spring property managers may talk you into planting a fruit tree as an appealing feature in your rental house. There are also some renters who like the idea of growing and harvesting fruit straight from the yard. But if your tenant is not experienced in caring for and maintaining fruit trees or doesn’t have the time to do the job, fruit trees can end up becoming an unwanted burden. For some renters, the work required by fruit trees can be a big drawback, so they may not even apply for a rental that has them.
Seeing that the best trees for rental properties are low-maintenance, that would exclude fruit trees altogether. A probable big reason for not planting fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. Most fruit trees only produce fruit after years of care and growth. Some trees also need special conditions when it comes to heat, cold, or watering amounts in order to thrive.
Fruit trees also need to be pruned and fumigated if you want them to bear fruit year after year, and this is something most people don’t know much about. Your tenant might also not enjoy dealing with the unwanted insects and rodents that fruits often attract. It’s probably best to avoid fruit trees altogether if you or your tenant do not have the time and effort they require.
Fruit Trees in the Lease Documents
If you are willing to accept the responsibility of caring for fruit trees on your rental property, you have to include clauses in your lease that clearly state what your tenant’s obligations are 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 are not going to take care of the trees yourself, make sure that your lease documents explain that the tenants need to care for the trees or hire a professional to do it for them.
At Real Property Management Republic, 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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