If you own a rental property but had a tenant trash it when they leave then make sure you read this article because we’re addressing the all-too-common problem that landlords have when they say, “Help! My last tenant trashed my Raleigh house!”
Do you own a rental property? Did you have a tenant leave it in less-than-perfect condition? It happens! In fact, it’s an experience that probably every landlord has faced at least once. If you looked at your empty rental property and said, “Help! My tenant trashed my Raleigh house” then here are some things you can do about it…
Is it worth going after the tenant?
You must first assess the damage and decide whether it is worth going after the tenant. Unfortunately, it often isn’t worth the hassle because it may be a time-consuming and even expensive effort to get the tenant to pay you back. However, if the damage is severe enough, you may decide to do so.
Is it worth repairing the damage?
We’ve heard about everything from holes in the walls to toilets that aren’t working. Sometimes a little drywall and paint will fix the problem, in which case you should fix it up and rent it out again, and accept the inconvenience as part of the deal. However, if the damage isn’t worth repairing, you might be interested in one of the following options:
You could rent your house to a handyman
Finding a handyman who wants to rent the house is a little-known option that can be extremely beneficial. They can fix up the house for you in exchange for a discount on rent (or even free rent) and make it a nice rental property again. However, make sure you have a clear timeline so you don’t end up staying too long without getting much work done.
You could sell the house
Another option is to sell the house and move on from being a landlord with a difficult tenant. If you try to sell the house on the open market, keep in mind that you may need to fix it up first in order for the agent to list it. Selling privately to a house-buying team like ours is another option. (We buy houses in their current state and fix them up ourselves.)