yard maintenance on 3/1 single family house

[Robert Stamper]

Hi, We have a nice 3BR/1 Bath house that we just rehabbed.  Everything is new.  Roof, HVAC, kitchen, baths, flooring...  

It also comes with a decent sized yard.  It takes me 45 minutes+ to push mow.   I have been mowing it personally through the rehab, but we have decided to rent it rather than sell.   

We would like for the property to be maintained inside and out.   

What does everybody here do about mowing the lawn? Do you require the tenant to mow the lawn? Do you include it? If included, I'm sure you hire it out. We are in the Richmond, VA area if anyone cares to recommend a lawn care group that could service our growing portfolio.

Thanks in advance!

Robby

[Stephen Glover]

@Robert Stamper I manage a bunch of property in Richmond, VA and out of all of our investors, one of them hires/pays for a landscaper. He is buying $400,000+ houses cash in the best neighborhoods though, so it makes sense that he does it. Everyone else who is worried about cashflow does not. It is the tenants responsibility and they expect it.

Definitely do not supply a lawnmower!  That's asking for liability / injuries / repairs / etc. and filling it up with gas every two weeks :)