You have probably been told that having a tree on your Menomonee Falls rental property’s landscaping can help boost your rental rate. 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 kinds of trees, however, are suitable for a rental situation.
Actually, the real question is whether planting fruit trees on a rental property is a good move. While there are no hard and fast rules about which type of tree is best, it is important to consider all aspects of fruit trees in question before you finalize your decision, especially since different trees grow better in different climates.
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 are easy to grow, offer shade after a relatively short time, and don’t need to be pruned yearly.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Some Menomonee Falls 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 unless your tenant has experience in the care and maintenance of fruit trees and has time to do the job well, fruit trees can be an unwanted burden. For a lot of renters, the required work that comes with having fruit trees is enough reason for them not to apply for a rental that has one.
Since the best trees for rental properties are low-maintenance, that excludes fruit trees altogether. A probable big reason for not planting fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. Most fruit trees only produce fruit after years of care and growth. Some are also sensitive to heat, cold, watering amounts, and so on.
Fruit trees also need proper pruning and fumigation in order to produce fruit every year. Most people do not know much about this, either. Your tenant might also not enjoy dealing with the unwanted insects and rodents that fruits often attract. 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 on the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, you need to be very clear in your lease about your tenant’s obligations where those trees are concerned. It is not enough to merely assign landscaping maintenance to your tenant as they may not realize that this includes regular pruning and clean-up after fruit trees, which is a lot of extra work. So, if you do not intend to take care of the trees yourself, make sure to lay it out in your lease documents that the tenants need to care for the trees or hire a professional to do it for them.
At Real Property Management Greater Milwaukee, 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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