Managing a rental property regularly is a crucial component of being a landlord. However, if you’re a property owner, you’ll always need to make sure the property is up to standard and in perfect shape for tenants. Perhaps one of the most stressful aspects of handling rental properties can be the handling of property maintenance demands.
As a landlord, you can determine whether you want to employ a professional contractor or DIY those work. Upkeep and maintenance of assets may be a full time work. Whether you have one of those already, it may be time to call in the pros to give you a bit of assistance. It’s important to understand that people such as plumbing or electrical problems need to manage these work. It’s also recommendable to recruit licensed plumbers and electricians.
Any smart landlord will list all rental property maintenance work, and execute all of those tasks one by one. The list would also dependent on the characteristics of rental property and the budget set aside by the landlord for that reason. We’ve created a brief guide on how to establish a maintenance budget on a rental house, among other items.
Also, you should develop your list of go-to contractors. It can be a huge time-saver, particularly if you do have multiple properties in different areas of operation. If you are using a multi-purpose handyman or experts, keeping your list of contractors handy will streamline the task of providing maintenance services for properties.
Checks regularly for pests
When it comes to pest control, whether it the duty of the landlord or the tenant has been the focus of debate. That said, it’s your duty as a landlord to ensure you provide your tenant with a secure and habitable premise. It means ensuring the property is pest-free until the tenant moves in. From there, holding it up is the duty of your owner. In this to be legally binding, though, make sure that you include it as part of the lease agreement in your rental house. Should you find any pests such as termites or mice, do not hesistate to contact a professional pest control service immediately.
Keep your rental unit clean by not leaving food lying around, keep the containers upside down when not being used, and periodically search your property for any signs of unclean waste or stagnant water. Seal the holes in your walls inside your leased property and patch leaking taps so rodents don’t have any sources of water. Condo management and municipal council also regularly carry out pest control / extermination activities, so keep as many windows shut at night to avoid any escaping cockroaches entering your home.
Check for damage and water leakage
Look for soft spots on walls , roofs and ceilings. Also, check if there are any water leaks under boilers and water heaters or perhaps a water pipe is leaking. The thing is that a persistent water leak can cause massive wall, roof, or anywhere it appears to be harmful. The sooner it is identified and removed, the better. And there is the danger of mold, which can shape too. This too will carry about a high expense.
Severe damage to water will undermine structural integrity in your home. That is why it is essential that you include this in your maintenance checklist for rented properties. The trick is to make sure you have the problem repaired before it gets serious. After heavy rainfall, and after snow and ice have melted, the perfect time to look for leakages. Look for soft spots at the ceiling while testing for water damage, inspect your boilers and the water heater. When you think there is a leak, immediately contact a waterproofing contractor.
Keep your air conditioning systems in good shape
It can be expensive to patch or remove an air conditioning system entirely. That is why it is important to take care of it constantly through routine aircon maintenance. Below are some ways to help you handle the cooling system in your house.
Not only can dirty filters raise the energy bill but they can also lead to system failure. And if it is the tenants who are paying the electricity bills. High bills will result in you losing tenants. You keep everybody satisfied by adjusting your filters periodically, and your air system runs smoothly.
- Remove water from standing place. It is necessary to get rid of the water that is stored daily in the humidity-moderating systems of your building such as drains pans. Stagnant water can also turn toxins and bacteria into a breeding ground.
- Wash the conduits of the blood. For describe the equipment frequently, using brushes, vacuums, and power washers. Getting filthy and dirty units can present a health threat to your tenants and can cause costly potential problems.
- Check bearings and belts. Check for straight edge of your belts, and clean them periodically. Belt mismatch will cause the pulley to groove and wear out the belt.
- Replace ventilation filters. Air filters usually aren’t costly. Therefore, keep an air filter supply on hand for easy replacement.
Maintain your water heater
Water heaters are frequently neglected during maintenance of the rental properties. And, if your water heater has not been repaired, then you know how expensive it can be.
Get an annual inspection done by professional water heater installers. Your water heater needs routine maintenance from qualified and licensed professionals, just like your vehicle.
- Wrap your water heater into a blanket of insulation. The insulating blanket helps to reduce the amount of heat loss at standby. The reduced strain will help extend her life.
- Drive a mini-flush to get rid of debris on your water heater. The sediment will decrease your water heater output, as well as corrode your tank. You might also put the mini-flush on your checklist for inspection.
- Reduce temperature setting in your water heater. This helps to lower the chances of overheating your water heater. You may also expect your electricity bills to save up to five per cent.
Clean the Sinks
Clogged sinks can be a serious nuisance. Cleaning them out during the spring once a year is enough to make sure you don’t get frustrated all year long. There is a simple, but incredibly efficient and inexpensive method to that end. First pour half a cup of baking soda into the sink. Enable it to stay there for 5 minutes before adding a cup of vinegar and hot water. Give it another five minutes before rinsing it for half a minute with hot water. And all your concerns about clogged sinks will just as well disappear.
Examine Caulking and Grout Between Tiles
The grout between tiles will crack over time and can remove the caulk surrounding the tub. You no longer have a waterproof seal when that happens, and water can leak through the surrounding walls or floor below and damage them. You will remove the caulking or grout as soon as you find any cracks or gaps, to avoid possible water damage.
