As an East Brunswick property manager, you must guarantee that your properties are winter-ready. The cold weather can be brutal on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not adequately prepared, you may wind up with expensive repair bills and disgruntled renters. You must not only be prepared to deal with freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but you must also undertake crucial maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and help you protect the value of your investment property.
Below are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks that will get your rental property ready for winter!
Outdoor
- Inspect your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any problems or leaks that could let moisture or cold air penetrate. Fixing any cracks and patching broken spots will help keep water from getting inside your rental homes, which can result in expensive repairs and mold growth.
- Make sure that all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to keep them from freezing during winter. Routinely inspecting for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help avoid burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Examine your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to ensure they are free from trash and functioning correctly. Congested gutters can result in flooding during heavy rain and snow, while faulty drainage systems can allow water to accumulate in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to expensive repairs.
- Think about installing a protective coating or sealant on your rental property’s driveway, sidewalk, and steps to assist in avoiding cracking and damage from the cold weather. This can assist in guaranteeing that these places 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 pruning them back. In addition, don’t forget 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 clean.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. The reason is that ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will help blow warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters nice and cozy throughout the chilly winter months.
- Hire a qualified professional to perform annual furnace maintenance to guarantee that your rental property’s heating system works correctly. Frequently servicing your East Brunswick rental home’s heating system will help lessen 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 ensure they are in excellent working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies such as fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading obsolete smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Inspect all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to ensure they are functioning correctly and that there are no leaks or clogs that could create serious difficulties during the winter months. Inspecting these places regularly will not only save you cash on expensive repairs, but it can also help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Examine and clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are typical sources of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, guaranteeing that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in excellent working order is necessary.
As a rental property owner, you must take the appropriate precautions to prepare your investment properties for winter. Performing these chores can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing expensive repairs and damage.
Still, keeping preventative maintenance on a schedule can be difficult. This is particularly evident during the busy holiday season. However, the experts at Real Property Management All-Star can assist! Contact us online today to learn more about our excellent services.
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