As a Freehold property manager, it is relevant to always make sure your properties are appropriately prepared for winter. The cold weather can be tough on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not correctly prepared, you could land with extravagant repair bills and unsettled renters. Not only do you have to be prepared to face freezing temperatures and inclement weather but on top of that, it’s equally relevant to fulfill critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can certainly help prevent emergencies and help you protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks to get your rental property geared up for winter!
Outdoor
- Carefully inspect your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any wrecks or leaks that could allow moisture or cold air to seep in. Sealing any cracks and renovating deteriorated parts can help suppress water from getting inside your rental homes, which can cause expensive repairs and mold growth.
- Be sure all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to hinder them from freezing during winter. Attentively checking for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Go over your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to see if they are clear of any kind of debris and functioning precisely. Clotted gutters can result in flooding during heavy rain and snow, while it is a matter of fact that damaged drainage systems can, sadly, cause water to accumulate in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to exorbitant repairs.
- Seriously think about installing a protective coating or sealant on your rental property’s driveway, sidewalk, and steps to help prevent cracking and damage from the cold weather. This will help make sure that these areas are safe and easy to navigate during the winter while protecting your rental property’s curb appeal.
- Cut back trees and attentively plan your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by carefully pruning them back. In addition, ensure to winterize your sprinkler system and cover up any exposed pipes or fixtures to prevent freezing. Maintaining a winter-ready rental property means keeping your lawn and garden areas uncluttered.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. The reason is that ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will help push warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters pleasantly nice and toasty during the cold winter months.
- Properly schedule annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to be sure that your rental property’s heating system works accurately. Regularly servicing your Freehold rental home’s heating system will help minimize the risk of emergency repair needs and stretch the life of your investment property’s major systems.
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties to be sure they are in serviceable working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies such as fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading outdated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can effectively help keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Heedfully check all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to be certain they are functioning rightly and that there are no leaks or clogs that could induce major impediments during the winter months. Carefully checking through these areas will not only save you money on rather costly repairs but besides that, can likewise help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and conscientiously clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are widely known causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, making sure that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in fine working order is necessary.
As a rental property owner, it’s vital to take the necessary courses of action to prepare your investment properties for winter. Performing these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing exorbitant repairs and damage.
Having said that, performing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be a definite challenge. This is even more true so during the busy holiday season. But really, the pros at Real Property Management Performance can help! Contact us online today to learn more about our high-value services.
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