There are many steps you can take to secure your Raleigh Court investment properties from vandalism. But even the best preventions can’t guarantee you will not fall victim. With roughly 15% of homes targeted by vandals each year, it is likely that one or more of your rental homes may eventually be hit.
When vandalism happens, it’s easy to start to feel a sense of violation and frustration. Especially when you are working with law enforcement, your insurance company, struggling to get repairs started all while you are trying to provide reassurance to your tenants. Being prepared and knowing what to do when vandals do strike can help to restore your confidence and make navigating the whole process of recovery that much easier.
Immediately after the vandalism has been discovered, it is important to contact the local authorities and file a police report. Your tenants may take it upon themselves to contact them, however, as the Raleigh Court property landowner you should communicate with the investigating police officers and make sure that all property damage is documented in an official report. You’ll also want to document the vandalism for yourself and your insurance company as well. Taking pictures of the damage is a good way to do this. If you are unable to get to the property yourself, you can have one of your tenants or your property management company handle the documentation for you.
Unless the vandalism was created by one of your tenants or their guest, you will be responsible to make the necessary repairs. This is why working closely with your insurance company is such an important part of the recovery process. They should be involved as soon as the vandalism has occurred. It is also a great preparation tool to make sure that your landlord insurance policy covers this type of damages. If not, you will be responsible to pay for the repairs yourself.
Lastly, vandalism can be a frightening time for a tenant. It can leave behind not only physical damage to the property, but it can also have a lasting feeling of fear and anxiety. Their sense of security has been violated. They are going to need reassurance that you will take care of things as well as visible proof that you or the property management company are working hard to restore both the rental property and their ability to live safely inside.
At Real Property Management Colonial, one of our main priorities is making sure both your tenant and your rental property are unharmed from vandalism and other unnecessary damages. But if vandals do make a mess, we will handle all the documentation and recovery process for you and make sure that your property is restored as soon as possible. Would you like to learn more? Please contact us online or call us at 540-595-7411 for details.
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