During the winter, rental property owners must remember to perform additional maintenance. Other critical tasks must be completed to ensure that your rental property remains in good condition during winter, even though some people only think of seasonal tasks like storing outdoor furniture or turning off the irrigation system.
Continue reading to learn more about the most important winter maintenance tasks for rental property owners!
Winter Exterior Home Maintenance
Addressing any exterior damage that may have occurred during the summer is one of the most significant winter maintenance tasks for rental property owners. Fixing damaged siding, replacing missing or broken roof shingles, and repairing cracks in windows or doors are all possible.
Some noteworthy tasks for maintaining the exterior of your home include:
- Making sure the gutters and downspouts are clear of any debris.
- Inspecting and fixing outside streetlights.
- To prevent rats from entering, screens should be covering intake vents.
- Maintaining and storing outdoor furniture, including grills.
- Cleaning out hoses and sprinkler systems and putting them away in a garage or shed in an orderly fashion.
- Giving every chimney and fireplace a thorough cleaning and inspection.
Indoor Maintenance Tasks
Rental property owners must perform numerous maintenance tasks indoors. During the winter months, it is crucial to have a house that is well-insulated. Checking and installing weatherstripping around doors and windows, insulating basements and attics, and insulating pipes to keep them from freezing in freezing weather are all possible measures to take to prevent drafts.
Some necessary tasks for maintaining the interior of your home include:
- Removing and storing any window-mounted air conditioning units.
- Servicing your HVAC system to ensure it is in good working order.
- Reversing the direction of your ceiling fans (counterclockwise is best for cooler weather).
- Checking the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Prevent Injuries and Property Damage
Clearing snow from walkways, driveways, and steps on a daily basis is essential if your rental property is located in a snow-covered region. This will help prevent slips and falls, which can result in accidents and potential lawsuits. To prevent ice buildup, be sure to have the right shovels, a plowing service, and bags of sand, salt, or snow melt on standby.
It’s also important to watch your rental property’s roof and gutters during winter, especially in areas with heavy snow or freezing temperatures. Repeated thawing and freezing cycles can cause significant damage to a roof and lead to flooding or other water damage. If not dealt with immediately, ice dams, which develop when snow melts and refreezes on the roof, can cause significant damage. To prevent costly emergency repairs, it is advised to hire a professional to inspect and repair your roof right away.
Keeping on top of these winter maintenance tasks will help keep your rental property safe and comfortable for your tenants and prevent damage or expensive repairs.
Additional Winter Maintenance
Regular maintenance tasks are essential to keeping your rental property’s HVAC system in top operating condition. Among these responsibilities is the need to change the air conditioning filter in your rental property at least once every three months. Why? Because the system has to work harder and use more energy to overcome the airflow restrictions caused by a filthy filter. The system’s efficiency can be increased, and you can reduce energy costs, by changing the filter frequently.
Enjoy a worry-free winter! The best way to ensure the safety of your rental property year-round is to team up with a reputable property management firm. Get in touch with Real Property Management Performance now to find out how we can assist you with safeguarding and maintaining your Red Bank and surrounding area investments, guaranteeing a season free of worries. Call 732-289-9337 or send an email to contact us.
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