As an Oak Park property manager, it is significant to be certain your properties are prepared for winter. The cold weather can be hard on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not rightly prepared, you could end up with pricy repair bills and distressed renters. Not only do you have to be geared up to handle freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but on top of that, it’s moreover significant to accomplish critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and aid you to protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks that will get your rental property fit for winter!
Outdoor
- Closely check your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any destruction or leaks that could let moisture or cold air seep in. Sealing any cracks and fixing defective areas can help keep water from getting inside your rental homes, which can induce pricy repairs and mold growth.
- Make sure all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to stop them from freezing during winter. Consistently evaluating for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Scrutinize your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to ensure they are clear of junk and functioning rightly. Blocked gutters can bring about flooding during heavy rain and snow, while, indeed, damaged drainage systems can make water accumulate in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to financially excessive repairs.
- Look into 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 ensure that these areas are safe and easy to navigate during the winter while protecting your rental property’s curb appeal.
- Cut back trees and plan your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by trimming them back. Moreover, make sure 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 for this is 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 toasty during the cold winter months.
- Plan and schedule annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to see to it that your rental property’s heating system works perfectly. Consistently and regularly servicing your Oak Park rental home’s heating system will help lessen 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 help ensure they are in great working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies like fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading obsolete or outdated 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 make certain they are functioning appropriately and that there are no leaks or clogs that could bring major difficulties during the winter months. Routinely checking these areas will not only save you money on uneconomical repairs, but it can indeed help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and carefully clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are usual causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, making certain that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in excellent working order is imperative.
As a rental property owner, it’s essential to take the necessary actions to prepare your investment properties for winter. Accomplishing these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing financially excessive repairs and damage.
But still, accomplishing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be a challenge. This is all the more true during the busy holiday season. Nevertheless, the pros at Real Property Management Main can certainly help! Contact us online today to learn more as regards to our excellent services.
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