What are some of the essential maintenance tasks that need your attention, whether you’re renting out a single-family home with a large yard or a small unit in an apartment building? You likely have your own list, and we want to make sure that it’s a complete list.
As a landlord, you understand the importance of keeping your rental property in good condition. Regular maintenance checks and preventative services ensure that your investment property remains safe, habitable, and attractive to the best tenants who are looking for rental homes in DeKalb County.
Neglecting essential maintenance tasks can lead to unhappy tenants, conflicts and disputes, and eventual damage to your property. This is why it is important to keep on top of all the essential maintenance tasks for rental properties.
We enjoy helping landlords have a better (and more profitable) experience so we’ve created a brief and informative guide to understanding where your most essential maintenance tasks happen to land. If you’re doing all of these things, you can be sure you’re protecting the condition and value of your investment. You can also be sure that your tenants are having an exceptional rental experience, which will lead to lease renewals and fewer vacancy and turnover costs.
Major Systems: Invest in Regular HVAC Maintenance
Preserving the functionality and the lifespan of your major and most expensive systems must always be a priority.
When it comes to rental properties, one of the most important maintenance tasks to stay on top of is protecting and maintaining your HVAC system. The heating and cooling systems inside of your rental properties need to be regularly inspected and serviced to ensure they are working correctly. Hiring a professional HVAC technician to inspect and service your heating and cooling systems at least annually is important as they can pick up on any issues before those issues become a major problem.
With preventative HVAC maintenance, you will be less likely to field emergency maintenance calls around heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. You’ll also provide better air quality for your tenants. Always make sure the HVAC is a checklist item for your seasonal and preventative maintenance checklists.
Pay Attention to Ongoing Roof Maintenance
Speaking of expensive repairs and replacements, when’s the last time you had to put a new roof on a rental property?
It isn’t cheap.
That’s why we recommend extra attention to your property’s roof. Keeping your rental property’s roof in good condition is essential to avoid leaks and water damage. Have your roof inspected at least once a year to check for damage. While you have a roofing specialist up there, ask them to clean out any debris such as leaves and branches. If you notice any damage, be sure to have it repaired immediately. Replacing damaged or missing shingles will be far more cost-effective than replacing a roof or managing a leak. Your roof protects your property. It also takes on a lot of rain, wind, and direct sunshine. Keep our roof care at the top of your maintenance checklist.
Plumbing Checks and Preventing Water Damage
Water is especially damaging to a property, and you want to be sure you’re doing everything you can to avoid leaks, floods, and even slow drips. Make this part of every inspection and maintenance walk through that you conduct. Whether you’re preparing the property for a new tenant or inspecting it after a resident has moved out, look under sinks and behind toilets. Check for moisture around tubs and dishwashers. Getting ahead of plumbing disasters is essential to your cash flow, your long-term ROI, and the value of your property.
Regular plumbing checks are essential not only to prevent leaks and water damage, but also to ensure that your tenants have access to functioning bathrooms, sinks, and other amenities. Hire a plumber to inspect your rental property’s plumbing, and perform any necessary repairs, such as fixing leaks and upgrading old pipes.
Electrical Maintenance is a Checklist Item
In addition to plumbing, you’ll want electrical systems that are functioning the way they should and safe. Your rental property’s electrical system should be inspected by a qualified and licensed electrician at least once a year. Make any necessary repairs, and if your electrician suggests that it’s time to install new electrical fixtures, such as light switches and sockets, do it. There’s no sense in waiting for those items to deteriorate and stop working.
Pest Control and Landscaping
Don’t forget the outside of your property. In addition to maintaining the interior, you need to remember that a lot of prospective tenants are making their decisions about your property by the way it looks from the street or the sidewalk. How’s the exterior paint? Is the lawn mowed and tidy?
Your curb appeal is your first impression. It counts. Invest in regular lawn care and make sure you’re treating your property for pests.
You’ll want to partner with your tenants to keep your home clean as well. Regular cleaning is an important task that should not be overlooked. Keeping your rental property clean and tidy makes it more attractive to potential tenants, and also helps to prevent issues such as pest infestations. Hire a professional cleaning service to deep clean your rental property during every turnover period. When you have a good relationship in place with your residents, you can encourage them to keep the place clean and well-maintained during the tenancy.
As a landlord, taking care of your rental property is an essential part of your job. With regular maintenance checks and essential tasks, you can ensure that your property stays in good condition and provide your tenants with a safe and livable home. HVAC maintenance, roof maintenance, plumbing checks, electrical maintenance, and regular cleaning are just a few of the essential maintenance tasks that you should be doing to keep your rental property in tip-top condition. Don’t neglect these tasks, and you’ll avoid costly repairs and unhappy tenants in the long run.
Need some help putting together a maintenance plan? We’re here. Please contact us at Silas Frazier Realty, LLC. We lease, manage, and maintain investment properties in Atlanta, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Lilburn, Conyers, Smyrna, Marietta, Lithonia, Jonesboro, McDonough, Vinings, Brookhaven, Tucker, and the surrounding areas.
