Rental property owners should be making a few key maintenance calls this time of year. There are a few fall and winter preparation tasks to tackle right now to protect your investment over the winter months and ensure your tenants are happy. Today, we’ll highlight a few of the most common areas worth considering.
1. Winterizing Water Sources
Before the temperatures get too cold, you want to call a handyperson to help winterize any outdoor water sources. For example, removing garden hoses from spigots and winterizing any yard sprinkler systems will ensure you don’t experience burst pipes this winter.
2. Seasonal HVAC Inspections
Consider bringing in an HVAC technician to evaluate and inspect your rental property’s heating unit. Get ahead of costly unit failures later by identifying potential issues now. And be sure to include a fresh furnace filter.
3. Roof Repair & Maintenance
Before the winter really sets in, rental property owners are calling their local roofing professionals for an inspection of roofing materials. Replacing a few shingles now is far less expensive than a leaking ceiling later. And a contractor can double-check the condition of flashings and seals to ensure moisture intrusion doesn’t happen this season.
4. Fireplace & Chimney Inspections
If your rental property features a fireplace or chimney, now is the best time of year to reach out to your local chimney sweeping professional. Ensure there aren’t any critters who may have taken up residence in these areas and remove any harmful creosote build-up to prevent fire hazards. You can also have any gas fireplace mechanisms inspected for safety and functionality before your tenants use them.
5. Winter Window Treatments
Consider making innovative use of weather stripping wherever your rental property windows need it. And it’s a good time to prepare storm windows or remove screens where applicable as well. Bringing in a contractor to perform any winterizing services on windows and doors now will ensure your tenants stay warm this winter. And any effort to reduce drafts or identify problem areas now can help reduce energy costs.
6. Gutters & Downspouts
You may have not put a lot of initial thought into the placement and condition of your rental property’s downspouts and gutters. But you should. If water cannot be channeled properly away from your rental’s foundation, you could be setting your investment up for serious foundation issues down the road. Bring in a handyman service to clean and remove any debris from your existing gutters. And most experts suggest that gutter extensions run at least six feet away from a property’s foundation to be effective. When all the winter snow melts, you’ll want to ensure all that water leads away from your investment.
