There are numerous things to think about and consider pruning the trees at your Bangor rental property this fall. Many property owners realize that pruning is a fundamental part of keeping your rental property’s landscaping and plants healthy. Pruning is also a significant aspect of preventing damage to the property. By understanding as much as you can about the who, what, why, and how of fall pruning, you can guarantee that this important seasonal task is being done properly by the right people every year.
Although the most intensive pruning, including tree and shrub shaping, should be done during the growing season, there are significant undertakings that should be finished during the fall season — removing dead or low-hanging branches, just as any new growth that is obstructing doorways, driveways, or walkways, is a vital piece of rental property maintenance. This kind of pruning is about aesthetics and maintaining property value via curb appeal. By pruning away problematic parts of the tree or shrub, you encourage healthy new growth while keeping your plants strong for the upcoming winter.
Keeping trees and bushes trimmed is also a significant aspect of keeping your tenants safe. Dead branches pose a serious safety risk to tenants and other visitors. Should a dead tree fall on a tenant, a visitor, or even a neighbor, you could be held liable for any legal or medical costs. Overgrown trees and bushes can also be more of a risk during severe weather events if they cause damage to vehicles and/or the rental home. If an overgrown tree or bush falls and damages the house or the tenant’s personal property, you may wind up footing the bill.
Albeit the tree or bushes do not fall, overgrown foliage can be the reason for other types of property damage. Bushes and trees growing near foundations, walls, or other structures can weaken the cement or brick. Roots can push up structures from underneath, cracking foundations, among other things. Thick foliage also tends to draw in insects and other pests, which can prompt damage to the property or transmit diseases to your tenants and their pets. All of these are important reasons to make pruning back overgrown trees and bushes a priority for your fall property maintenance.
Even though tenants can usually be trusted upon to do basic yard maintenance, pruning is one job that you must not request them to do. A tenant could kill your trees or bushes by not understanding how and when to prune properly. Their lack of knowledge or the unfortunate result could end up in even more expensive landscaping repair in the future. Tenants will also require a ladder and other equipment, but bear in mind that ladders are accountable for more than 164,000 injuries and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. As the Bangor property owner, you could be held liable should any of your tenants injure themselves.
So, what’s a real estate investor to do? To avoid being in the middle of such a sticky situation, hire a Bangor property manager. Real Property Management Acadia handles property maintenance, tenant relations, leases, and more. Our team of property management experts can handle any necessary fall pruning your property needs, ensuring that it is done correctly and as economically as allowed. To learn more about us and what we can offer property owners such as yourself, contact us online or call us at 207-561-7482 today.
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