As a Downingtown property manager, it is vital to make certain your properties are prepared for winter. The cold weather can be rough on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not appropriately prepared, you could get financially wasteful repair bills and angry renters. Not only do you want to be prepared to manage freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but besides that, it’s furthermore vital to execute critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and let you successfully protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks to get your rental property adequately prepared for winter!
Outdoor
- Conscientiously check your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any damages or leaks that could get moisture or cold air to seep in. Sealing any cracks and mending disintegrated areas can help keep water from getting inside your rental homes, which can give rise to financially wasteful repairs and mold growth.
- See to it all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to effectively keep them from freezing during winter. Seriously and regularly checking out frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Observe your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to be certain they are clear of garbage and functioning appropriately. Clotted gutters can cause flooding during heavy rain and snow, and damaged drainage systems can get water to pile up in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to extravagant repairs.
- Take into account 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 guarantee that these sections are safe and easy to navigate during the winter while protecting your rental property’s curb appeal.
- Cut back trees and set up your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by cutting and trimming them back. Furthermore, make it a point 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 neat.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. It has something 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 nice and warm during the cold winter months.
- Arrange and schedule annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to be certain that your rental property’s heating system works correctly. Habitually or regularly servicing your Downingtown rental home’s heating system will help decrease the risk of emergency repair needs and maintain the life of your investment property’s major systems.
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties to make certain they are in perfect working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies such as fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading dated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help maintain and keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Carefully check all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to be sure they are functioning suitably and that there are no leaks or clogs that could trigger major dilemmas during the winter months. Meticulously examining these areas will not only save you money on exorbitant repairs, but it can even help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and heedfully clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are conventional causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, securing that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in sound working order is critical.
As a rental property owner, it’s vital to take the necessary measures to prepare your investment properties for winter. Doing these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing rather costly repairs and damage.
Even so, doing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be a real challenge. This is particularly true during the busy holiday season. But certainly, the pros at Real Property Management Varanasi can help! Contact us online today to learn more about our excellent services.
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