As a Renton property manager, it is necessary to always secure your properties are fit for winter. The cold weather can be tough on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not accurately prepared, you could tend to end up with exorbitant repair bills and annoyed renters. Not only do you necessitate being ready to face freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but aside from that, it’s likewise necessary to carry out critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and support you to protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks to get your rental property appropriately prepared for winter!
Outdoor
- Heedfully check out your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any cracks or leaks that could warrant moisture or cold air seeping in. Sealing any cracks and destroyed areas can help stop water from getting inside your rental homes, which can cause exorbitant repairs and mold growth.
- Make certain all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to keep them from freezing during winter. Carefully examining frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Examine your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to be sure they are clear of litter and functioning accurately. Obstructed gutters can cause flooding during heavy rain and snow, however, damaged drainage systems can bring water to flood the foundation of your rental homes and lead to pricy repairs.
- Deem 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 certain 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 prepare your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by trimming and pruning them back. Likewise, see to it 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 spruced up and neat.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. This has to do with the fact that ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will help push warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters comfortably nice and toasty during the cold winter months.
- Deliberately plan annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to make sure that your rental property’s heating system works rightly. Frequently servicing your Renton rental home’s heating system will help mitigate the risk of emergency repair needs and conserve the life of your investment property’s major systems.
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties to ensure they are in fine working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies such as fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading old and outdated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help preserve and keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Ascertain that all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties are functioning perfectly and that there are no leaks or clogs that could set major drawbacks during the winter months. Habitually checking these parts will not only save you money on extravagant repairs but can, moreover, help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and painstakingly clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are familiar causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, establishing that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in great working order is significant.
As a rental property owner, it’s critical to take the necessary initiatives to prepare your investment properties for winter. Complying with these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing pricy repairs and damage.
But of course, doing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be a difficult challenge. This applies in particular during the busy holiday season. However, the pros at Real Property Management Excelled can help! Contact us online today to learn more with respect to our professional and excellent services.
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