Rental property maintenance can be quite difficult, especially if you are new in the real estate investing world. And being a landlord, you probably know that tenant turnover can be a burden to your business. In order to avoid having your long term rentals vacant, you need to adopt a property management strategy that will ensure your investment is in its best shape at any given time and part of that means knowing what to take care of. So, here is the ultimate rental property maintenance checklist you should follow:
#1 Exterminate
Insect/pest problems are relatively common, especially in some parts of the United States. Such a situation can harm your rental property business in many different ways. For instance, you might lose a tenant or end up with significant damage to your property. That is why it is important to exterminate every other month as a part of your preventive maintenance policy. Even though this will cost you some money, it is better to prevent the problem from occurring rather than deal with the much higher rental property maintenance expenses afterward.
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#2 Change Filters
Regularly changing the filters of the AC, dishwasher, and hood should be a task on your rental property maintenance checklist. You should typically change all these filters once every three months. If you use water filters, do not forget to replace them regularly as well.
This is one of the property maintenance tips that will save you money. First of all, it will prevent all these appliances from breaking or getting damaged. Additionally, it will make your tenants happy.
#3 Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
This point of your rental property maintenance checklist is actually extremely important. Being a landlord, it is your duty to put the health and safety of your tenants first, not to mention the legal consequences you can face. Make sure all these devices are working properly. Additionally, check the batteries and replace them if needed. Preventive maintenance of these detectors is of the utmost importance. It is better to be safe than sorry, as they say.
#4 Inspect Fire Extinguishers
The same goes for the fire extinguishers in your investment property. It does not take much time to check if the fire extinguishers are ready to be used in case of a fire. Check their expiration date, the package- there should not be any signs of wear and tear- and be sure they can be easily accessed. Once again, this routine rental property maintenance check does not require much but can save lives.
#5 Check the Drainage/ Plumbing System
This is another important point in the maintenance of the rental property. It is important to make sure the drainage is not clogged as the consequences can lead to severe damage and rental property expenses. Check for any leakage or disruption in the plumbing. Do so at least twice a year.
Another of our property maintenance tips is to also inspect the shower caulking and grout. Make sure there are no holes or cracks. The latter might lead to leakage or the build-up of mold. Sure enough, you want to avoid such problems in your long term rentals.
#6 Drain the Water Heater
Another routine step in your rental property maintenance should be the drainage of your water heater. You should do this at least once a year, typically before the cold season. This procedure is done in order to ensure the proper functioning of the heater and to avoid the building of sediment. The latter can cause clogging or damage your heater. Trust us, you do not want to add another water heater to your rental property expenses.
#7 Check Gas/ Electricity Systems
Yet another important step in your rental property maintenance checklist. Check if the gas and electricity systems are working properly at least one or twice a year. A problem in these systems may cause a huge safety issue, let alone the frustration of your tenants.
#8 Inspect the Property’s Exterior
A part of your property management schedule should be not only checking the inside of the house but the outside as well. To minimize rental property maintenance expenses, check the exterior of your investment property regularly. Inspect for any leakages or water damage. It is also important to clean the gutters from fallen leaves in order to avoid problems. You can do these tasks prior to and after the rainy season.
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In the meantime, it is also a good idea to include an examination of the garden in your rental property maintenance checklist. It is necessary to also inspect the roots of trees and other bigger plants- if rotten, take actions and avoid possible accidents.
#9 Check the Basement
You should inspect your investment property’s basement at least once a year. Check if everything is in order. Make sure there is no mold or pests. Do not overlook this area as it stands as the foundation of your real estate property and if neglected, it might lead to some serious issues.
#10 Deep Clean the House
One of our simplest property maintenance tips is deep clean the property at least once a year. Again, this will ensure that the rental property is in its best condition and will prevent any long-term dirt from building up. Moreover, such actions lead to less tenant turnover, which is something every landlord desires.
Rental Property Maintenance: Our Advice
There are some additional things you might find useful when talking about the ultimate rental property maintenance. Besides your own home maintenance checklist, make an agreement with your tenants to create such a list themselves and keep track of it. Ensure effective communication with the occupants of the property and react as soon as possible if any problems occur.
It is also a good idea to calculate some of the expenses regarding the preventive maintenance in advance and take them into account when wondering how much to charge for rent.
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Rental property maintenance might cost you some time and money but it is certainly worth it. This is due to the fact that it will keep your investment property in excellent shape. Moreover, it will help you keep your tenants satisfied as well as complete your tenant turnover checklist in case you need to find new occupants.
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