A crime that hits property owners frequently is the vandalism of their residential property. East Providence and the neighboring areas are not exempt from this offense. In fact, roughly 15% of American homes are targeted by vandals each year. Vandalism, such as graffiti and smashed mailboxes, can cause expensive damage to the rental home; that can be plainly seen, but it also deals a huge blow to the tenant’s sense of security and community spirit, not to mention the potential detriment of property values. To not have these things happen, preventing vandalism should be prioritized by both landlords and property owners.
One of the most effective ways to keep vandalism from even happening is to install and maintain sufficient exterior lighting. Dark spaces catch the eyes of vandals, as they usually choose to do their dirty work without being seen. Motion sensor lights are especially effective and are an energy-efficient alternative that tenants will gladly welcome.
If your rental property has fences, vandalism can be averted by equipping your fences with a secure gate that locks. Vandals like easy targets, so if they need to climb over a fence or bust through a locked gate just to get to their target, they would probably think twice. This would go a long way towards keeping them out of your property.
As a natural deterrent, consider lining your property with bushes or shrubs that have rough bark, thorns, or pointy leaves. The additional plants will serve a double purpose; it will add to the beauty of your property and present a painful barrier to any unwanted visitors making an attempt to get to your property.
It may seem outlandish, but one way of discouraging vandals from targeting you is to pick the proper type of window coverings. Vandalism is a crime of opportunity; they usually go for homes that they believe are empty. Using blinds or drapes to cover your windows will make them second-guess their decision because it raises doubt in their minds whether or not anybody is home. This is especially effective if you keep a light or two switched on at all times. It just might divert them to look for another target that isn’t as risky or as difficult.
If vandals do strike and trash your rental home, it’s a good idea to do any repairs immediately. These sorts of ne’er-do-wells enjoy having their handiwork seen and fussed over. If the desecration to your premises isn’t briskly rectified, the perpetrators may be spurred on to produce an even bigger, “better” mess. You can firmly deter any vandals from coming back by painting over graffiti, repairing broken glass, and by attending to any desecration immediately.
By adopting these practical principles, you can make sure that your East Providence rental homes would become a very difficult target for vandals. At Real Property Management Providence, you can get our full-service property management including monitoring your properties on a regular basis and arranging for repairs and maintenance when needed. If you would like to learn more about home safety, don’t hesitate to contact us online or give us a call at 401-272-3300.