One of the things that’s really stressful when managing rental property is dealing with repairs. As a landlord, you surely hate the phone calls from your tenant that the toilet isn’t working or the roof is leaking. It’s easy to cringe and wonder how much money you’ll have to spend.
There are a few things you can do to save money on rental maintenance and keep your house in good condition. These things involve preventative maintenance. It will cost you every year, but you can budget for that, and it really helps in the long run. You know what issues will come up and how to plan for future needs. Preventative maintenance makes your process easier and prevents small problems from becoming big problems. Today, we’re discussing five areas that should receive preventative maintenance annually.
Roof and Gutters
Check your roof and gutters once a year. Shingles should be intact, and you want to make sure there’s nothing peeling back. Clean out your gutters. That may be a tenant’s responsibility, but make sure someone takes care of them. They cannot be clogged or leaking.
Plumbing Maintenance
If your tenant calls to report a leak or they hear something dripping, take care of it immediately. Make sure you winterize the property. Pipes can freeze if you live in a place where it’s cold. This has happened numerous times, and we train our tenants on how to avoid it. If you don’t want to drain the hose bibs yourself, hire a plumber to do it every year. It’s important to have your plumbing intact. A leaking toilet over time will cause problems elsewhere in your home.
Electrical System
If something electrical isn’t working or is shorting, make sure you have an electrician look at it. It’s also a good idea to have your GFCIs checked every year.
HVAC System
If you can get a service contract with an HVAC contractor, they will check your system twice a year. They’ll make sure it’s working properly. If you run into a problem, and you have a service contract, you’re at the top of that contractor’s list. That’s good for you and it’s good for your tenant.
Pest Control
Schedule pest control at your property twice a year. Termites can be treated preventatively, and it protects you from having issues. It’s also affordable.
Look at preventative maintenance in these areas. Then, you have good relationships with contractors and vendors who can help if there’s ever a bigger problem. Always do regular inspections of your house. Tenants won’t catch everything, and you can see and handle a lot just by walking into the property once or twice a year.
If you need any help with rental maintenance or you need to find good service contractors, please contact us at Richey Property Management. We can help you with all of your Northern Virginia property management needs.
