Garden Maintenance = Higher Rental Returns

Your investment is making a return. You've done your research, purchased in a good suburb and now your property is tenanted and covering your costs ... and hopefully a little extra too! But how can you maximize your investment and get the best return on your money?

Tenants love low maintenance and low responsibility. Your property probably looked immaculate when you put it up for rent; gardens were weed free, hedges straight and lawns lush and green. But in all likelihood your tenants won't love your garden as much as you do. They may keep the house in order; to keep the agent happy on the next inspection but the gardens are another story..

 Research shows that rental properties with well maintained gardens rent up to 4x faster than untidy properties. Tenants were also far more likely to search for properties with neat gardens in a flooded market. So it pays to ensure your property is looking its best when you put it up for lease. In another study researchers found that tenants are 83% more likely to extend their lease if the property has a gardener maintaining the gardens regularly.

 It’s no wonder that 71% of property owners in 2012 had their rental properties maintained by a professional gardener once a month. Keeping the gardens looking great not only increased the length of the tenancy and the satisfaction of the tenants; but it also increased the net profit from the property - even after gardening expenses were paid for.

 In today’s society everyone is busy, stressed and desperately running out of time. It’s no wonder that tenants are snapping up rentals that have regular gardeners. And it’s easy to see why these properties can charge a premium.

 Remember if you are thinking about hiring a professional gardener to maintain your rental property, make sure it’s written into the tenancy agreement and the rent is increased to cover the costs of garden maintenance. With regular maintenance the gardening costs will decrease over time, as the gardens become easier to maintain; but the perceived value of the property will increase, allowing you to increase the rent, and your net profit.

 Regular maintenance is a win-win. It keeps tenants happy for longer, and increases the value of your property allowing you to attract better tenants and a higher rent or resale value.