Perhaps nothing could be more frustrating than not being able to protect your Marlin investment properties from vandalism. You do all the necessary steps; however, the reality is that even the best prevention is no guarantee. 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 your property falls victim to vandalism, it can leave you feeling a whole range of emotions ranging from violation to frustration. It’s quite common to feel enraged as you deal with the police and your insurance company while making necessary renovations and at the same time trying to appease an equally upset renter. Being well-informed about the process of what to do when vandals strike can shift your mood from defenseless to confident and therefore make the entire recovery process a bit easier.
Soon after you uncover vandalism, it is important to contact the local authorities and file a police report. Your tenants may take it upon themselves to make the call or may notify you and expect you to make the report. As the Marlin property owner, you should communicate with the investigating police officers and make sure that all property damage is documented in an official report.
You will have to make sure you have documentation for the whole thing. Take detailed pictures of the damage for yourself and your insurance company as well. If you are not able to go to the property yourself right away, you might have your tenant or your property management company handle the documentation.
It is your responsibility to make the necessary repairs unless the act of vandalism is done by your renters or one of their guests. Working closely with your insurance company is an important step in the process; they need to be included as soon as the damage occurs. Even before vandalism occurs, it is an excellent idea to make sure that your landlord insurance policy covers this type of damage. If not, you may have to compensate for the renovations yourself.
Lastly, vandalism can scare a tenant, leaving behind not only the physical damage but also feelings of fear or anxiety. Their sense of security has been disrupted, and they may need both reassurance from you that things will be taken care of as well as visible proof that you or your property management company are working hard to rebuild both the rental property and their capacity to live safely in it.
At Real Property Management Apex, one of our top priorities is keeping both your tenant and your rental property safe from vandalism and other preventable damage. But if vandals do make a mess, we will handle the entire 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 254-732-1599 for details.
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