Whether you own or rent your Grandville home, we all desire to feel cozy in our living space. For a lot of people, this means adding decorative elements that help to personalize a home. However, if you are a renter, decorating can have a gigantic effect on your security deposit. The majority of leases contain a report of the kind of changes you, the tenant, can make as well as what you would need permission from your landlord to do.
But if some things aren’t laid out properly, you may wonder exactly where the line is between what’s allowed and what isn’t. And if you’re not certain, you may accidentally do something that could get less of your security deposit back than you want. Let’s see some common décor items that may cost you – and how to avoid being charged for repairs.
Interior Paint
Here is the number one question renters ask: Can I paint the interior of my rental house? This is a common question, and it totally makes sense to ask! A simple way to personalize a room or the entire home is by changing the paint color. But just in case, be certain to check with your landlord first if your lease specifically states that you can paint your rental house,
Many leases state that you should return the home to its original condition. Even though it does not mention paint in any section of the lease, it’s vital to note that this includes the paint color on the walls. Your landlord has the right to legally withhold funds from your security deposit to repaint the house if you have changed the wall colors and return it to its original state before you leave.
Wall Damage
One other big reason renters don’t get their entire security deposit back is due to holes (or other damage) in the walls. When you change up your home, you may not be considering how your landlord will react to the damage left after placing framed artwork, mounted televisions, or other wall-mounted décor items. Even having a few nail holes in a wall can result in a security deposit deduction, and the cost of repairs goes up depending on the size of the holes that are left behind.
To refrain from losing your deposit, try planning your décor while thinking about what’s going to happen in the end. Choose nail-free hangers instead, or just completely avoid hanging anything on the walls. Large artwork or televisions can just as well look good on top of an accent table or cabinet and will not cause any wall damage.
Floor Damage
Finally, be sure to protect your floors as you decorate. Heavy furniture and other things could gouge, scrape, and otherwise damage floorings like wood or laminate, and crack or break the tile. If you have big things you need to keep in your home, have a person help you move them and place protective material, like a blanket or moving pad, underneath to have less floor damage. If you think you would need to move your furniture around often, consider owning some felt padding for the bottom of your furniture to make rearranging your décor easier and less likely to cause damage.
Regardless if you decorate your rental home, you should always remember, at some point, you will be moving out. And when that day comes, the less you need to do to restore the home to its original condition, the bigger the chance you will get your full security deposit back.
Is moving to a new rental home on your to-do list this year? Real Property Management Investment Solutions has the perfect one for you! We have quality rental homes for every taste and budget, so check out our listings today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
