Whether you own or rent your Dearborn home, we all aspire to feel pleasantly comfortable in our living space. For many, this comprises adding decorative elements that really help to personalize a home. But be aware that as a renter, your decorating can have a significant effect on how much of your security deposit you get back. Several leases bear a description of what types of changes you, the tenant, can make and what you would need permission from your landlord to do.
Although if things aren’t totally evident, you may ask in particular where the line is between what’s allowed and what isn’t. And if you aren’t positively sure, you may do something that might mean getting less of your security deposit back than you expect. Let’s look at several common décor items that could cost you – and how to avoid being charged for repairs.
Interior Paint
It’s the number one question renters ask: Can I paint the interior of my rental house? And it is sensible why this is such a very common question and matter. Changing the paint color is one of the most convenient ways to personalize a room or entire home. But really, even if your lease doesn’t explicitly state that you can paint your rental house, be certain to check with your landlord first.
A lot of leases state that you need to return the home to its original condition. Even if it doesn’t mention paint anywhere else within the lease, it’s vital to mention that this includes the paint color on the walls. Your landlord can legally withhold funds from your security deposit to repaint the house if you’ve altered the wall colors and don’t put it back before you move out.
Wall Damage
Another major reason renters don’t get their entire security deposit back is holes (or other damage) in the walls. Each time you decorate your home, you may not be considering how your landlord will feel about the damage left after installing framed artwork, mounted televisions, or other wall-mounted décor items. Even various small nail holes in a wall can induce a security deposit deduction, and the cost of repairs goes up the bigger the holes that are left behind.
To effectively keep from losing your deposit, try planning your décor with the end in mind. Choose nail-free hangers or keep away from hanging things on the walls at all. Large artwork or televisions can work just as perfectly upon an accent table or cabinet and won’t leave wall damage behind.
Floor Damage
On a final note, watch out to protect your floors as you decorate. Heavy furniture and other pieces can gouge, scrape, and otherwise damage floorings like wood or laminate, and crack or break the tile. If you have massive stuff you have got to keep in your home, have one person help you move them, and attach protective material, like a blanket or moving pad, underneath to keep floor damage to a minimum. If you are apt to move your furniture around frequently, think about procuring some felt padding for the bottom of your furniture to make rearranging your décor easier and cause less damage.
Irrespective of how you decorate your rental home, it’s crucial to address it with an outlook that, at some time, you will perhaps be moving out. As soon as that day comes, the less you need to do to restore the home to its original condition, the more likely you will be to get your full security deposit back.
Is moving to a new rental home on your to-do list this year? Real Property Management Metro Detroit could have the appropriate one for you! Indeed, we have quality rental homes for every taste and budget, so check out our listings today.
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