You should read this article if you own a rental property and your tenant trashed it when they left. We’re addressing the all-too-common problem that landlords face when they ask “Help!” My last tenant trashed my Savannah house!”
Are you the owner of a rental property? Was it left in less-than-perfect condition by a tenant? It happens! It’s an experience that almost every landlord has encountered at least once. If you looked at your empty rental property and said, “Help! My tenant trashed my Savannah house” then here are some things you can do about it…
Is it worth going after the tenant?
It’s important to first assess the damage to determine whether pursuing the tenant is worthwhile. Getting the tenant to pay you back can be tedious and even expensive, so it isn’t always worth the hassle. You may choose to do this, however, if the damage is sufficiently significant.
Is it worth repairing the damage?
You name it, we’ve heard it! From toilets missing to walls with holes, we’ve heard it all! Occasionally drywall and paint will fix the problem, in which case you may want to fix it up and rent it out again, then accept the inconvenience as part of doing business. However, if the damage isn’t worth repairing yourself here are a few other options you may want to consider –
You could rent your house to a handyman
Find a handyman who wants to rent out the house is a little-known option that can be very helpful. The landlord will fix up the house for you in exchange for a discount on rent (or even free rent). To avoid them staying too long without a great deal of work being completed, make sure you have a timeline spelled out in advance.
You could sell the house
Selling the house is also another option if you want to avoid owning a frustrating rental property. In any case, you may need to fix up the house first in order for an agent to list it if you try to sell it in the open market. Our team of house-buyers is another option if you want to sell privately. (We fix up the houses ourselves after we buy them).