Many people make their money through rental properties, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re able to DIY, deal with people, and have an eye for a good property — it might be for you.
One of the important things you have to take care of that will take some time is rental property maintenance. We are here to help you get it right every time.
Continue reading this article for rental property maintenance checklist items you can’t miss.
What Type of Rental Property Do You Want?
Before you start your journey as a landlord, you need to figure out what type of rental property you want. Do you want to rent to someone long term, or are you interested in buying a vacation rental investment property?
Depending on which types of property you have, you’ll need to maintain them a little differently. With vacation properties, you can schedule time blocks to get things done. When you work with renters that live there full time, you’ll need to work around what works for them.
Prevent Rodent & Insect Problems
Even if you don’t have rodent or insect problems, you need to exterminate every month or every other month. If you are renting an apartment complex, make sure to have the treatment done on all of the apartments — not just the one that has the problem.
While exterminators will be a cost, it’s much less expensive than dealing with tenant vacancies due to these types of problems.
Inspect the Property for Water Damage or Leaks
Water damage can wreak havoc on a home. Keeping an eye on the property to see if there is any water damage or leaks can help you take care of the problem before it gets worse.
The best time to check for water damage and leaks is after a heavy rainstorm, when snow or ice starts to melt or during humid days.
Not only can water cause damage to the property and the tenant’s belongings, but it can cause dangerous mold to form. Mold isn’t something you want to deal with since it can cost you thousands of dollars to remedy.
Make Sure Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors Are Working
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors need to be checked frequently. If something goes wrong and they weren’t working, you’re looking at a potential lawsuit.
It’s easy to check on these things, and if they aren’t working, it’s just the cost of a couple of AA batteries.
Pressure Wash the House & Clean the Gutters
Pressure washing the house and cleaning the gutters will help prolong the life of the house. Pressure washing can be done once a year, and that’s about all that is needed.
On the other hand, if your house is under a lot of trees, you’ll need to clean those gutters frequently. If you don’t want to clean your gutters a lot, you can purchase a gutter guard to make sure nothing gets in the gutters.
Check Caulking & Grout in the Shower
Caulking isn’t made to hold up forever. Over time, the caulk around your tub is going to wear. If you notice the caulk around your tub is, fix this immediately, or you will get water damage.
The same goes for if you notice any problems with the grout around tiles. Make sure they are shored up right away to avoid issues with water.
Change Filters In Your Air Conditioning & Heating System
At least twice per year, you need to change the filters in your air conditioning and heating system. The manufacturer of your systems can let you know which filters are the best to use with your chosen system.
If you’re operating with dirty filters, you’ll notice you have a higher energy bill. Not only will you be up against a higher energy bill, but your system might experience problems like freezing.
Check to make sure you don’t have a clogged air duct. If you do have a clogged air duct, you may need to ask a professional to come out and take care of it. Even though you don’t pay the energy bill, you should pay attention to how high it goes because high energy bills lose clients.
Flush Your Water Heater
Draining your water heater is a task you need to do about once or twice per year. When you do this, you’ll remove any build-up that’s hanging out in there.
If you don’t flush your water heater and sediment does build inside, the water heater may operate with lower efficiency and even get a clogged drain valve.
If your water heater goes out, you’re looking at a big expense. If you don’t know how to drain your water heater properly, you might want to bring in a professional to do the job.
Communicating With Tenants
It can be challenging to keep everything in good working condition if you’re not good at communication. When you bring in new tenants, set the expectations of how you deal with your property. Let them know what they are responsible for and what you are responsible for.
Communicating these terms will ensure the relationship goes well, and you’re able to get your tasks done in a timely manner.
Taking Care of Rental Property Maintenance
When you have a rental property maintenance checklist, you’ll be less likely to forget about important items you need to take care of. When you take care of your renters, it is more likely they will keep renting from you.
Do you want to learn more about rental properties and other important topics? Keep reading our blog for more.