Posted on: February 9, 2015 by

Landscaping Tips for Residential Property Managers

As a property manager, you likely understand that good landscaping is essential to increasing or maintaining a residential building’s curb appeal. The primary goal of your landscaping efforts should be three-fold; to turn your property’s surrounding area into an aesthetically appealing yard, to increase functionality, and to ensure the landscaping is environmentally sustainable. Before undertaking any large scale project for your property, however, it’s essential to financially protect yourself and your assets by obtaining the right Property Management Professional Liability policy, also known as an Errors and Omissions policy.

When it comes time to begin the design phase of your landscaping plans, it’s important to take a few factors into consideration; your community’s climate, the needs of the particular residents that will be residing in the building, and if the property has a swimming pool and what legal implications this could have for the property. You may also come across issues if you have tenants who wish to do their own landscaping outside their door; such as creating a garden.  If this is the case, be sure to get the tenant’s plans in writing and sign off on them when and if applicable.

In addition to keeping the above factors in mind, the following items should be addressed as well when designing and/or maintaining a landscape for your residential property.

• If your property has a lawn, be sure to mow the grass on a daily basis and trim areas on the edges of walkways and driveways.
• Give tenants plenty of notice, as well as a list of chemical ingredients that will be used, if you are to spray for bugs.
• Be sure to plan tree trimming or tree removal into your budget if applicable.
• Specify in the lease or in a separate lease addendum what your policy on pets and damage caused by pets is.

This is just a small sample of good landscaping tips for residential property managers. For more information about how to protect your business practices as a property manager, and to learn more about our Professional Liability Coverages for a variety of industries, please contact NewMark Insurance Services at (855)-777-6549.

Posted in: blog Professional Liability

Tagged: errors and omissions insurance Landscaping Tips liability professional liability Property Management Property Manager