Yes or no on sprinklers on a rental?

Question

Matt M. · Answer

What are you going to do with the property long term? Is it going to be a rental for the foreseeable future? If so, then I'd try to xeriscape it the best you can. You can ask renters to maintain it in the lease, but are you going to check on them monthly?

I'd install the system along with new sod when you eventually go to sell the home.

Bill S. · Answer

@Cole Harter so you will never recover the cost of a sprinkler system. What it does allow is tenants that want a nice lawn to water and have a yard which looks good for the neighbors as well. In my experience, only about 1 in 10 tenants in the A/B areas will care for a yard with sprinklers. Of those, most won't if they have to drag the hoses. In B/C 1/100 will care for a yard. It's a huge waste of money for a sprinkler in those area. BTW it takes many years for a lawn to completely die here. In most cases if someone doesn't care for it and the next tenant does, then it will grow back pretty well. After 2 years of good care then you'll have a nice yard again. If I were to install a sprinkler I would only do it in the front.

Deanna McCormick · Answer

No sprinkler system would be my vote. keep it simple.

Shawn Ackerman · Answer

@Cole Harter what are the numbers suggesting? look at the cost of implementation vs. the returns. so if the job costs $2K what return on your investment will you be receiving on that money? If it is not adding any measurable value, I'd elect not to complete it. If on the other hand is a commercial property 5 or more units and it's required then you have to do what you have to do.

Alan Grobmeier · Answer

No. But I live in AZ. I zeros cape ALL my yards and shut down the sprinklers. ;-)

Stanley Parsley · Answer

how is your rental agreement set up?

if you have a big tenant turn over or not?

sometimes zero scape can save you a lot of headaches in the future

enjoy

Bryan O. · Answer

@Cole Harter like any question on the type/amount of extras: what type of property and neighborhood are you in? If you are in C/B- I probably wouldn't bother. They are more concerned with having a functioning place and enough money for bills. If you are in B/A areas, then they may have the extra money to appreciate it, want a nice green lawn, pride of ownership, etc.

If all the neighbors have it, it's probably fitting you do. If not, then not. I would make sure to have clauses regarding damage to the system vs. wear and tear just to make it clear to them that they must pay attention to it or pay for new heads.

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

@Cole Harter If at all possible in my properties, I try and include lawn care and put a lock on the sprinkler box. This comes from having so many problems with people cutting off the water and letting the lawn die. I also make sure that I take lots of photos prior to occupancy and during inspections so that we keep up on how the lawn is or isn't being maintained. This helps when we need to a claim on security deposit at the end with no questions.

Yes or no on sprinklers on a rental?

Yes or no on sprinklers on a rental?

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