Whether you own or rent your Monterey Park home, we all seek to feel comfortable in our living space. For many, this counts as adding decorative elements that contribute to personalizing a home. But take note, as a renter, your decorating can have a massive effect on how much of your security deposit you recover. Plenty of leases state a clear list of what varieties of changes you, the tenant, can make and what you would need permission from your landlord to do.
But certainly, if things aren’t actually clearly stated, you may be confused where the line is between what’s allowed and what isn’t. And if you aren’t sure of the lines, you may unknowingly do something that might mean getting less of your security deposit back than you like. Let’s take note of a few 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 there is a reason why this is such a usual concern. Changing the paint color is one of the most basic ways to personalize a room or entire home. But be sure, except in the event that your lease definitely states that you can paint your rental house, see to it to reach out to your landlord first.
Plenty of leases state that you will have to return the home to its original condition. Even if it doesn’t mention paint anywhere else within the lease, it’s relevant to point out 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 totally changed the wall colors and don’t put it back before you transfer.
Wall Damage
Another big reason renters don’t get hold of their entire security deposit back is holes (or other damage) in the walls. When you decorate your home, you may not be taking into account how your landlord will respond to the damage left after having framed artwork, mounted televisions, or other wall-mounted décor items. Even only a few nail holes in a wall can trigger a security deposit deduction, and the cost of repairs goes up the bigger the holes that are left behind.
To stop 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 great atop an accent table or cabinet and won’t leave wall damage behind.
Floor Damage
Lastly, take heed to protect your floors as you decorate. Heavy furniture and other belongings can gouge, scrape, and otherwise damage floorings like wood or laminate, and crack or break the tile. If you have weighty objects you will keep in your home, have someone you trust help you move them, and cover them with protective material, like a blanket or moving pad, underneath to keep floor damage to a minimum. If you plan to move your furniture around frequently enough, think of using some felt padding for the bottom of your furniture to make rearranging your décor easier and less likely to cause damage.
Heedless of how you decorate your rental home, it’s imperative to face it head-on with a view that, in the future you will be moving out. In the event 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 Fairmate could have the right one for you! We, indeed, 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.
