Maintenance Tasks in Rental Properties

For some investors, it may be tempting to save money on maintenance, but neglecting some routine tasks can lead to really costly repairs in the long run. It is really important to keep track of the scheduled maintenance and you can find many innovative solutions, like softwares that will allow you to track maintenance history or to provide timely maintenance for your property. Here are six regular property maintenance tasks you should think about.

1. Gutter Maintenance.

You need to regularly check the gutters on your property, as they can easily become clogged with leaves and other debris and clogged gutters can enter a building through the roof, siding, around windows and cause leaks in your property. It's important to check and clean the gutters at least twice a year and ignoring them can lead to many problems.

If you don't want to waste time cleaning the gutters yourself, you can purchase gutter guards, which will not allow larger debris to accumulate in the gutter. Failure to comply with this aspect of property maintenance can result in damage that can affect the structural integrity of the property.

2. Testing Smoke Detectors.

Always, always check smoke detector devices monthly to make sure they are in good working order. An average lifespan of a carbon monoxide detector is 5 years and smoke alarms have a useful life of about 10 years. Set a schedule to test them when you collect rent or at another time that is convenient for you or your tenant. These smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your units are essential components to keep your tenants and your property safe.

3. Water Damage.

Check for soft spots on roofs, ceilings, and walls for water damage, and the best time to do so is after heavy rainfall or after snow have begun to melt. Look for traces of water around windows, showers, and toilets, also check under sinks, boilers, and water heaters.

Continued leaks can completely damage the walls, ceilings, and your property, so it's very important to detect water leaks at an early stage. Water damage can have costly consequences, where moisture can affect the structure of materials, leading to premature replacement. Water can also be hazardous to health as it creates an environment conducive to mold growth.

4. Water Heater.

Replacing a water heater is a big expense, that's why heaters should be drained once or twice a year, this will help to remove deposits that may build up in your property from the water supply to your property. Not doing so, can reduce the efficiency of the water heater or clog the drain valve. 

If you are uncomfortable doing it yourself, hire a professional to inspect and maintain the water heater annually. Where draining water from the tank and removing deposits once a year can extend the life of the hot water tank and can help to identify and prevent leaks.

5. Heating and Cooling.

Dirty filters can increase your utility bill, forcing the system to work harder, or can cause systems to malfunction, that's why you should change the filters in your heating device or air conditioner at least twice a year.

Regular maintenance of the air conditioner will ensure their efficient operation and prolong their life, this part of the property's routine maintenance is best left to professionals, and remember to remind those in charge to change the filters regularly. Also, if your tenants pay their own utility bills, pay attention to this issue because excessively high utility bills can result in the loss of the tenant.

6. Trees.

If your property is in a colder climate, ice and snow can cause branches to break, which can result in property damage, that's why it is advisable to prune trees before winter. Annual tree maintenance is also important in warm climates and professional tree care is beneficial for trees and is also an important safety aspect.

Always remember, that being proactive about ongoing property maintenance can lead to future savings, and not doing so, can lead to disruptions that will make you worry and waste money on costly repairs. Overall, taking good care of your property and its structure leads to better tenant satisfaction.