Landscaping and Rental Properties

[Ryan Peach]

I went and looked at a potential 3rd rental property on Monday. It is a duplex in an area of town called "Duplexville". It is 3-4 blocks of almost exclusively post war duplexes. The per unit rates run from$475-$650. I noticed that most of properties have no landscaping at all, but the ones that did have some curb appeal were renting at the higher rates. In speaking with my property management company they said, and I'm quoting here, "The only investment I would make in landscaping on a rental is to remove it". I understand there is an upkeep required with landscaping, but I'm thinking a few evergreens and some mulch. What is BP's advice on landscaping rental properties?

[Shaun C.]

Any landlord that rents a property with no landscaping when there clearly should be, is a bad landlord. You are pissing off your neighbors and you give those of us that do more than the bare minimum a bad name. There is no reason you can't spend a few hundred dollars on some evergreens/shrubs, and mulch, and if you can't afford it, you bought the wrong property. A little goes a long way and as long as your rental market and tenant pool supports it, I can't see why you wouldn't. It should get you higher rents and a higher quality tenant.