During the winter, rental property owners must remember to perform additional maintenance. Other critical tasks must be completed to ensure that your rental property remains in good condition during winter, even though some people only think of seasonal tasks like storing outdoor furniture or turning off the irrigation system.
Continue reading to learn more about the most important winter maintenance tasks for rental property owners!
Winter Exterior Home Maintenance
Addressing any exterior damage that may have occurred during the summer is one of the most significant winter maintenance tasks for rental property owners. Fixing damaged siding, replacing missing or broken roof shingles, and repairing cracks in windows or doors are all possible.
Some noteworthy tasks for maintaining the exterior of your home include:
- Clearing any debris from the gutters and downspouts.
- Checking and repairing outdoor lighting.
- Covering intake vents with screens to keep rodents out.
- Cleaning and storing outdoor furniture and grills.
- Draining hoses and sprinkler systems and storing hoses neatly in a shed or garage.
- Cleaning and inspecting all fireplaces and chimneys.
Indoor Maintenance Tasks
Indoor maintenance tasks must be completed by a rental property owner on a regular basis. Making sure your property is properly insulated for the winter is another important consideration. In order to prevent drafts, this may entail adding insulation to attics and basements, checking and installing weatherstripping around doors and windows, and insulating pipes to keep them from freezing in freezing weather.
Some necessary tasks for maintaining the interior of your home include:
- Removing and storing any window-mounted air conditioning units.
- Servicing your HVAC system to ensure it is in good working order.
- Reversing the direction of your ceiling fans (counterclockwise is best for cooler weather).
- Checking the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Prevent Injuries and Property Damage
Clearing snow from walkways, driveways, and steps on a regular basis is essential if your rental property is located in a snowy region. This will assist in helping to prevent slips and falls, which may result in injuries and potential lawsuits. To prevent ice buildup, make sure you have shovels that are appropriate, a plowing service, and bags of snow melt, salt, or sand on hand.
During the winter, especially in places with heavy snow or freezing temperatures, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the roof and gutters of your rental property. Repeated thawing and freezing cycles can cause significant damage to a roofcould cause floods or additional water damage. If snowmelt and then refreezes on the roof, ice dams can develop and cause significant damage. To prevent costly emergency repairs, it is advised to hire a professional to inspect and fix your roof right away.
You can safeguard your rental property from potential damage and expensive repairs by staying on top of these winter maintenance tasks and ensuring the safety and comfort of your tenants as well.
Additional Winter Maintenance
It’s crucial to carry out routine maintenance tasks to guarantee that your rental property’s HVAC system is operating at peak efficiency. Changing the HVAC filter in your rental property once every three months, or more frequently if required, is one such duty. This is due to the possibility that a dirty filter could obstruct airflow, making the system work harder and use more energy. You may increase system efficiency and reduce energy costs by routinely changing the filter.
Enjoy mental tranquility this winter! The secret to protecting your rental property in any weather condition is to work with a seasoned property management company. Get in touch with Real Property Management Ascension right now to see how we can guarantee a worry-free season by safeguarding and maintaining your investments in Lafayette and the surrounding areas. Contact us via email or give us a call at 706-760-7912.
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