"Community Grill", Good idea in 4-fam?

Question

I have recently taken over a 4 family and am trying to think of creative ways to attract residents that will justify the rent I desire once I raise rents. One idea is to tidy up the backyard, possibly add in a patio area, and buy a propane grill that will be available for all the residents to use.

Has anyone done something like this? How were your results? What other creative ideas do you have?

Has anyone done something like this?  How were your results?  What other creative ideas do you have?

Florian N. · Answer

@Max James I am not sure i would put a propane grill, but the idea is good.

How about a park style charcoal grill, away from the properties in the yard?

Also @Bryan Otteson brought up a good point, as you have 4 units chances are that there will be a conflict on grill time usage. If you want to do it maybe put two grills, one between each 2 sides.

Mike Cumbie · Answer

I love the idea on paper:

Visions of neighbors getting along over a hot dog, sitting on a warm night chatting and realizing how much they all love living there and never want to leave. Considering this their own home.

Sadly I follow Kevin on this one though. I just imagine the phone calls "Stupid Fred is out there with his buddies and I can never use the grill".. "The smell of the cooked animal is coming into my unit and I want to gag". "Lisa never cleans the grill and it is out of propane every time I try and grill I want a rent credit".

Perhaps 4 nice low maintenance sitting areas out back 1 per tenant (but they can socialize if they want because they are close)

Good Luck!

Colleen F. · Answer

I would put the patio, not sure about the grill. I have had tenants ask and let them put their own in a designated area. For added value it may be more about the access to outdoor space.  Also the condition of individual units.

Max James · Answer

@Roy N. yeah I see all of the points made for potential issues for the grill.  Probably better to just advertise the space for a potential grill brought and cared for by the resident. It will be a good thing to sell during the showing.

I think it might be better to stick to the community fire pit and built in cheap benches. Encourage a grill and more chairs brought by the residents.

Colleen F. · Answer

I have a tenant who brought their own grill and was happy to have a place to put it.  That is something you can offer on a showing.  Much like other items left out I make no guarantee about security but haven't had an issue.  He lets the adjacent tenant use it as long as they co-ordinate use.   He also had porch furniture which I only allowed him to place if others can use it.  That really hasn't been an issue but this is right outside his and another unit and those are the primary users.  If it is  fenced yard and you allow dogs don't forget you will need to address  pickup.

A word about fire pits and noise.  If you have one and people use it will late night noise be an issue?   You  think it is far enough away but I have had problems with this one.  People gathering in a yard of an adjacent property at 1 am can be disturbing and that is when they have gatherings at a fire pit.

Storage can be a low cost value added item if you have some space for it.  We have a place for bicycles and beach chairs which is valued in our area. What extra stuff do your tenants normally have?

Roy N. · Answer

While we always create access to the yard, I would not provide a grill/BBQ:

- what happens when some of the tenants have food restrictions (they cannot use it because they do not know what has been cooked upon it);

- who is going to take care of it and clean it?

Max James · Answer

Great idea. A park style charcoal grill would be pretty cool, it could add a feel to the backyard with a sense of community. I might just go with one park style grill with a seating area you can hang out at and read a book, near an in ground fire pit. I think this would be very appealing to the tenant base I'm targeting.

The backyards a good size and it's semi private. What other low cost option ideas does everyone have to turn the basically useless area of the property into an attractive section?

Max James · Answer

Very well said about letting the customer make their own vision. We all do this whether we like to admit it or not. Especially young professionals like myself. If I can create an access point to the area, during a showing, a prospective resident will envision themselves walking back there frequently to use he space. So long as it is kept up well and it looks nice, that is all you really need. Even if the residents use the space on average once a month, it's the sellin point during the initial showing that spikes their emotional level giving them images of the potential with the space. I think this is such an interesting topic, the art of selling and showing a rental property. So much sociology involved, I love it.

Max James · Answer

@Kevin Yeats anad @Mike Cumbie good points, I will talk worth my insurance agent on the liabilities and what not. I would think all the liability would be on the resident. Especially if I include a clause in the lease. The grill would be pretty far from the building so I think the smell would be ok.

Bryan O. · Answer

I bought a community grill for a 3-plex. I live in one unit. It isn't in the center of the back courtyard area, so I think the far tenant feels like it's not their space. They don't use it. The neighbor one likes the idea and is very courteous about it, but we've had conflicting BBQ nights in the past. Add to it that we cover it up with a grill cover and it feels less community'ish.

I loved the idea and so did the tenants, but as soon as one tenant left and was replaced the new one seemed to feel less privileged.

I still think it can be a win, but I don't think I would do it again given the option.

"Community Grill", Good idea in 4-fam?

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