You may have heard that you can boost your rental rate for your Hawthorne rental property if the landscaping includes a tree or two. And there is some good evidence to back that claim. But what is not often mentioned is that the type of tree you plant has as much to do with increasing your cash flows. Not all trees are appropriate for a rental situation.
The big question, though, is whether or not planting fruit trees on a rental property is a good idea. Given that there are no rules about which type of tree is best, and knowing that different trees grow better in different climates, it is vital that you consider all aspects of fruit trees in question before you decide.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has great curb appeal. And a big part of the curb appeal is usually one or more beautiful trees 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. If that criterion seems daunting, don’t worry. Trees that fit the bill in many parts of the country include evergreen arborvitae, spruce, flowering dogwoods, and maple trees. Oak and desert willow are also great to plant in rental properties. These trees grow well, offer shade, and don’t have to be pruned annually.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Some Hawthorne property managers may talk you into planting a fruit tree as an appealing feature in your rental house. Some renters also like the idea that you can grow and eat fruit straight from the yard. But if your tenant has no experience in taking care of fruit trees, or has the time to maintain them properly, fruit trees can become an unwanted burden. Many renters opt not to apply for or stay in a rental that has fruit trees as the work they require can be a big drawback.
Since the trees that go well with rental properties are low-maintenance, that means fruit trees are off the list. The biggest reason you would want to veer away from planting fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. Fruit trees usually take years of care before they produce fruit. Some are also sensitive to heat, cold, watering amounts, and so on.
Fruit trees have to be pruned and fumigated regularly if you want them to bear good fruit every year, and most people don’t know much about this. Fruit often attracts unwanted insects and rodents as well, which your tenant may not be happy dealing with. 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 take the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, your lease should clearly stipulate your tenant’s obligations 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 California Coast, 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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