Vandalism is a crime that property owners have to attend to regularly. Criminals in Houston would deface residential properties in the area and the neighboring places. In fact, roughly 15% of American homes are targeted by vandals each year. Vandalism, such as graffiti and smashed mailboxes, can cause expensive damage to the rental home; that can be plainly seen, but it also deals a huge blow to the tenant’s sense of security and community spirit, not to mention the potential detriment of property values. Because of these things, preventing vandalism should be a high priority for both landlords and property owners.
One good way to preemptively counter vandalism is to install and maintain the right amount of exterior lighting. Vandals are tempted by poorly lit spaces because they don’t want to be seen when they’re doing their dirty work. Motion sensor lights are both energy-efficient and effective; tenants will really appreciate this alternative.
If your rental property has fences, vandalism can be averted by equipping your fences with a secure gate that locks. Vandals usually go after easy targets, so if they can’t get to their target without having to climb a fence or break through a locked gate, they’d most likely just give up on the idea. This goes a long way to making sure they stay out of your property.
For a natural deterrent, you can also plant bushes or shrubs that have rough bark, thorns, or pointy leaves; plant them all around the property. The additional plants will serve a double purpose; it will add to the beauty of your property and present a painful barrier to any unwanted visitors making an attempt to get to your property.
It may look unusual, but selecting the correct type of window coverings can prevent the vandals from coming, too. Vandalism is a crime of opportunity; they usually go for homes that they believe are empty. If you make sure to cover the windows with blinds or drapes, they wouldn’t know for sure if the house is empty, especially if you keep a light or two left on all the time. It would show them the amount of risk and effort they’d have to put in, and they just might decide to look for a different, easier target.
If vandals do strike and trash your rental home, it’s a good idea to do any repairs immediately. These sorts of ne’er-do-wells enjoy having their handiwork seen and fussed over. If the vandalism to your property home is not mended right away, they may be fired up enough to make an even bigger, “better” mess. By painting over graffiti, repairing broken glass, and dealing with other destruction, you can staunchly dissuade any vandals from coming back.
By doing these suggestions, you can protect your Houston rental homes from becoming an enticing target for vandals At Real Property Management Preferred, we offer full-service property management including monitoring your properties on a regular basis. And if anything should go wrong, we can also arrange for repairs and maintenance. If you have any questions about protecting your home, please contact us online or give us a ring at 281-894-9111 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.
