The worst thing that can happen to a landlord in Kenosha-Racine is if the tenant trashes your house. Unfortunately, renters who damage property is an all-too-common problem. If you’re a landlord, it can be devastating to discover that a tenant has trashed the rental unit. It’s not the first time that Kenosha-Racine landlords have called us and said: “Help, my tenant has trashed my house.”
If you own a rental property in Wisconsin, then this article is for you. When tenants leave the property in less-than-perfect conditions, you need to get the best advice. After all, in many cases, state laws favor the tenant until any eviction order is served.
Most landlords have faced the ugly fact that a tenant has trashed their Kenosha-Racine house. In this article, we look at what you can do with a trashed house. To know how to evict a rogue tenant, then Cornell Law School has excellent information.
So, after you have got the keys back, got rid of the tenant, and evaluated the damage—what now? Here are some ways that experienced Wisconsin landlords deal with tenants who’ve left a trail of destruction.
Is Going After the Tenant the Best Option?
Before deciding on going after the tenant, it’s vital to assess the damage. In many cases, it’s not worth the hassle of suing a previous tenant. You have to file complaints with the local court, which is time-consuming and expensive. Even if the court rules in your favor, there is no guarantee that you’ll recover the damages.
Should You Repair the Damage?
From holes in the drywall to missing toilets and stolen fixtures—we’ve just about heard it all. Sometimes, it’s not expensive to fix a few holes in the wall or even replace plumbing fixtures. If that’s the case, then it’s worth getting the repairs done to rent out the house again.
But what about if the repairs are going to be costly? What are the best options if you own a rental that has been trashed?
Two Options if Your Kenosha-Racine Rental Property Has Been Trashed
Here are two popular options that Wisconsin landlords take when a renter has caused a lot of damage.
Rent the property to a handyman
One option is to rent the property to a handyman. You could offer them to stay in the house for a significant discount or even rent-free while they fix up the house. Of course, you’ll have to buy materials, but at least you get your house fixed up for a fraction of the cost.
If you take this option, then it’s vital to draw up a timeline and put everything down in writing.
Sell the house
Many Kenosha-Racine landlords take the option to sell the house. The cost and time of repairing a trashed house can be too much. So, rather than waste time, you could sell to a local real estate investor and then move on.
Why is selling a rental property to a real estate investor better than through an agent? If you list your house with an agent, you’ll have to fix it up anyway. The best option is to sell the property to a private investor who buys rental homes in Kenosha-Racine in any condition.
Our team is here to give you a fair value, cash offer on the property today. We buy houses in an “as-is” condition and fix them up ourselves.