As a La Habra property manager, it is critical to make certain your properties are suitable for winter. The cold weather can be taxing on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not perfectly prepared, you could sadly end up with high-priced repair bills and agitated renters. Not only do you need to be ready to cope with freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but in fact, it’s even crucial to do critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and ensure you protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks to get your rental property properly prepared for winter!
Outdoor
- Mindfully check your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any damages or leaks that could enable moisture or cold air to seep in. Sealing any cracks and rectifying busted sections can help keep water from getting inside your rental homes, which can bring on extravagant repairs and mold growth.
- Make sure all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to keep them from freezing during winter. Always assessing for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Check out your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to carefully see if they are clear of fragments and functioning correctly. Blocked gutters can give rise to flooding during heavy rain and snow, whereas damaged drainage systems can, unfortunately, lead water to accumulate in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to uneconomical repairs.
- Think of 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 thoughtfully plan your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by carefully trimming them back. Indeed, make certain 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 in good order.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. This is related to the fact ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will help push warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters cozily nice and toasty during the cold winter months.
- Set up annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to seriously ensure that your rental property’s heating system works suitably. Routinely servicing your La Habra rental home’s heating system will help bring down the risk of emergency repair needs and extend the life of your investment property’s major systems.
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties to make certain they are in sound working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies related to fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading out-of-date smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Mindfully check all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to ensure they are functioning precisely and that there are no leaks or clogs that could get major issues during the winter months. Constantly going over these areas will not only save you money on pricy repairs, but besides that, it can additionally help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and meticulously clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are prevailing causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, determining that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in satisfactory working order is essential.
As a rental property owner, it’s significant to take the necessary strategies to prepare your investment properties for winter. Fulfilling these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing uneconomical repairs and damage.
But on the flip side, fulfilling preventative maintenance on a schedule can be a burdensome challenge. This is especially true during the busy holiday season. Although the pros at Real Property Management Caliber can effectively help! Contact us online today to learn more about our outstanding services.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
