As a Southern Highlands property manager, it is vital to confirm your properties are geared up for winter. The cold weather can be tough on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not appropriately ready, you could end up with expensive repair bills and unhappy renters. Not only do you need to be willing to deal with freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but it’s likewise essential to perform critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and help you protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks that will get your rental property ready for winter!
Outdoor
- Check your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any damage or leaks that could permit moisture or cold air to seep in. Sealing any cracks and fixing damaged spaces can help avoid water from getting inside your rental homes, which can lead to harmful repairs and mold growth.
- Guarantee all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to prevent them from freezing during winter. Consistently checking for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help ward off burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Inspect your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to make sure they are clear of debris and functioning properly. Congested gutters can lead to flooding during heavy rain and snow, while damaged drainage systems can cause water to collect in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to costly repairs.
- Consider 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 ensure that these areas are safe and easy to navigate during the winter while protecting your rental property’s curb appeal.
- Cut back trees and prepare your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by cutting them back. Additionally, be sure 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 tidy.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. This is because ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will help push warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters nice and warm during the cold winter months.
- Schedule annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to ensure that your rental property’s heating system works properly. Regularly servicing your Southern Highlands rental home’s heating system will help reduce the risk of emergency repair needs and prolong the life of your investment property’s major systems.
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties to make sure they are in good working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies like fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading outdated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Check all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to make sure they are functioning properly and that there are no leaks or clogs that could cause major problems during the winter months. Regularly inspecting these areas will not only save you money on costly repairs, but it can also help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are common causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, ensuring that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in good working order is important.
As a rental property owner, it’s important to take the basic steps to prepare your investment properties for winter. Performing these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing costly repairs and damage.
Still, completing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be a challenge. This is especially true during the busy holiday season. But the pros at Real Property Management Peace can help! Contact us online today to learn more about our quality services.
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