This is one of the common questions many property owners ask. The answer is simple, rental property maintenance keeps your rental unit in good shape and makes it appealing to existing and prospective tenants. Keep in mind that tenants are your main source of rental income, but you can’t attract the best quality tenants if your rental property is in poor shape.
More so, it is difficult to retain the best quality tenants when you fail to perform necessary maintenance and repairs. And , as property owners know, the turnover process and the search for good tenants can be arduous and costly. Therefore, in the long run, investing in maintenance and repairs saves you money.
In addition, keeping your rental property in good shape will help preserve and even increase the value of your property. So, when it's time for you to sell, you can sell it for capital gains(profit). Ultimately, when you perform regular maintenance, it ensures higher yields and enables you to receive a good return on your investment.
Maintenance is a vital component of property management, and as with any type of property, rental properties require routine maintenance. This can range from interior and exterior cleaning to damage control. Without a proper guide, it can be tricky to know what exact maintenance tasks you should be complete. We’ve put together a rental property checklist to make sure you stay on top of
property maintenance:
Filter Replacement
Changing the filters in your air conditioning is important. I’d recommend you change the filters in your
air conditioning or heating unit at least twice a year. The downside of not changing filters is that you allow the filters to get dirty, and this allows for the spread of bad air, and it can lead to higher utility bills because the unit will need to work harder. Worst case scenario, the unit can start to break down. You don’t want to leave these filters unchanged for too long; if you do, the dirty or clogged air ducts will require professional cleaning, which is an unnecessary added expense on your part.
Always ensure to check all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
This is a non-negotiable task on your rental property management checklist. Safety is everything and it is of paramount importance when it comes to rental property management. Therefore, you should endeavor to inspect and monitor all smoke and
carbon monoxide detectors on the property. From time to time, test them out to make sure they’re working as intended. Regular checks will enable you to identify changes that should be made, these can include: replacing the batteries or conducting some repairs if they’re not working properly. Keep records of the purchase dates of your alarms and detectors. A smoke alarm should normally last for a decade, while carbon monoxide detectors can have an average lifespan of about five years or more. When you keep track of these dates, it enables you to determine the time to replace them.
Pressure Washing
It is almost impossible to not include exterior cleaning as a part of any property’s maintenance checklist. If you’d want to extend the lifespan of your property, you have to clean it using a pressure washer. A combination of high-pressure water and cleaning detergents can be used to get rid of dirt, mildew, grease, and mold. With the exception of exterior surfaces and walls, you can also pressure wash your gutters to unclog them and prevent water damage.
You can decide to do this on your own by renting pressure washers at your local home improvement store. However, it is preferable to outsource the job to a pressure washing service. Operating a pressure washer can be complex and very confusing, there’s a likelihood for you to end up causing more damage than cleaning the surfaces.
Conduct inspections for water leaks and damages.
Water leaks and water damages are one of the most common maintenance and repairs complaints. Rental property maintenance should also regular inspections for water damage or leaks. Additionally, keep an eye out for signs such as soft spots on the walls, ceilings, or roofs. You should also check toilets, showers, under sinks, and around windows.
Ideally, this type of maintenance work should be carried out after a pelt down or when snow or ice has started to melt away. Hot and humid weathers are the best periods to check for water leaks because pipes usually sweat water as a result of the temperature and humidity.
Spotting water leaks before they worsen can save you a lot of trouble and money. Addressing these leaks early will prevent water damage, which can be very expensive to fix. More so, water damage can cause mold to grow, and, according to the Center for Disease Control, mold can pose damaging health risks.
Plan and Schedule Regular Exterminations
Pests such as rodents and insects can make a property uninhabitable and constitute a serious nuisance. They can wreak havoc and also cause serious damage to your property. An efficient way to address or prevent the issue is to plan and schedule monthly exterminations. Let’s say you own an entire apartment complex, in this case, it’ll be advisable to exterminate the entire property instead of just one unit. This will definitely ensure that no pests linger or remain. As is the case with pressure washing, exterminations should be outsourced to a competent and professional service.
Drain the Water Heater
Over time, sediment can increase into a stockpile in water heaters and lead to clogging. If this persists for too long, your water heater can start to malfunction and a replacement will be needed. This can cost a lot of money, hence the need to be careful. It is important to flush the water heater and make it a necessary requirement on your rental property checklist. Endeavor to do this once or twice a year.
Add your custom HTML here
