HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH DEBRIS AT YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY
Nexus Property Management® manages all types of properties across our five franchise offices. From the multi-families that are the norm in our Rhode Island, Connecticut and Worcester, MA territories to the high-end suburban single families in Natick and other Boston suburbs, to the newly built desert homes out in the Phoenix East Valley, we manage all types of properties in all types of areas. However, there are two things that they all have in common: 1) They all require rent collection, which is where our services begin…and… 2) THEY ALL END UP WITH TRASH.
WHY DEBRIS PILES UP
By our nature, humans are drawn to things they see with their eyes. If you’ve ever raised (or been around) a child, you know that as soon as they see that cookie on the counter, they “decide” they’re hungry. This reality is the driver behind companies shelling out $7 million for 30 seconds of Super Bowl ad time just to get their brand in front of your eyes and to the top of your mind. On the flipside, we tend to ignore what we can hide, and nothing hides better in basements or behind sheds like trash that is too large or cumbersome to fit out in your trash barrel. I can say in all honesty that right now there’s a broken lawn mower and a lime spreader missing a wheel out behind the barn…and I haven’t thought about them in months…and after this sentence, I’ll forget about them again.
Humans, like all organisms, prefer the path of least resistance. If the garbage truck won’t take it then the effort to get it to the landfill falls to you…so why not just put it behind the barn until you find the time and means?
This is all harmless enough in the short term, but for tenants with time limits placed on their stay, they’re not going to move those items. They’re going to remain and it is up to property owners to have a plan.
LEARN MORE: HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH ABANDONED VEHICLES ON YOUR PROPERTY
WHY DEBRIS IS SUCH A PAIN IN THE NECK
It’s essential that property owners keep their basements, parking lots, and yards clear. Trash that’s left unaddressed will inevitably pile up. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also attract greater headaches such as:
1) FINES:
Many municipalities have enacted regulations around outdoor garbage, garbage collection, and punitive actions for properties that do not meet those requirements.
2) PESTS:
A big reason for those fines and regulations in cities and suburbs is to help control pest populations. From bugs, to mice, to rats, plenty of animals are looking for a warm home for the winter or a safe place to nurture their offspring. If you’ve got two mice in March, you’ll have 10 mice by April, and 25 or so by May. And you thought that old couch you threw down in the basement would never be put to good use again?…something with four legs and a tail will sniff it out in time.
3) SAFETY:
To bridge back to pests, safety becomes an issue anytime you’re inviting wild animals closer to people. Beyond rats, mice and other diseases and tick harboring rodents, we’ve run into countless incidents of hornets, wasps, and even honey bees moving into old furniture left outside. Most trash that is too big to throw away traditionally or too rigid to break down into smaller pieces so it can be disposed of contains a metal frame. Metal being left outside means rust. Rusty metal brings with it another significant safety issue.
4) TENANT MORALE:
Assuming this isn’t a single family property (although sometimes this applies there too), tenant morale commonly drops when trash starts to pile up. It’s unsightly and makes it difficult for tenants to take pride and ownership of the place they pay to call home. Accumulating trash communicates a lack of respect for the property, which can then lead to additional issues and costs for landlords.
LEARN MORE: DON’T NEGLECT YOUR COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE!
DEALING WITH DEBRIS: BEST PRACTICES
Your tenants are leaving and they decided not to take their old mattresses and two random stray tires with them. On top of that, the house is full of food (think condiments and anything in the fridge or freezer they didn’t finish, canned goods, and the saltless-Saltine crackers someone thought would be a good idea), old lamps, alarm clocks no one uses anymore, more plastic utensils than you’ve seen in your lives, toys that didn’t make the cut despite the kids’ loudest efforts, smaller end tables, and the La-Z-Boy that they were too lazy to bring down the stairs. What do you do?
Many landlords resort to calling a dumpster company and having them leave a dumpster at the property. Then the owner, or someone he/she hires can take a full week to fill it. Typically, this will cost about $500-$700, depending on the size. But it’s not an efficient choice. Your best option is to purchase a dump trailer or to find someone who has one. At several of our offices, our maintenance teams have trailers of their own and can deliver a full load to the local dump for around $150. In New Haven County, we’ve partnered with a reputable junk removal company, who has a truck and trailer of their own. By hiring a company like Junk Hunters CT, you can have someone with laborers of their own haul your debris away quickly and efficiently for much less than it’d cost to rent a dumpster.
CONCLUSION:
There’s a best way to do all things and often that best solution is not the first thought that comes to mind. Nexus helps clients save money when tenants vacate and time is of the essence to get the unit cleaned up and improved for the next tenant. Dump trailers are the most cost-effective and efficient means of removing debris easily and quickly, but most people don’t have access to one. For most, contacting a professional junk removal team is a far better option than grabbing a dumpster or making countless trips yourself.
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Mick Lefort is the General Manager of Nexus’ New Haven County Franchise Office and the Vice President of Operations for Nexus Property Management®, a National Property Management Franchise that manages all types of rental property from single family homes or condos to large apartment buildings and complexes.
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