As a Timberlake property manager, it is your responsibility to make sure your properties are winterized. The cold weather can be severe on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not properly prepared, you could end up with high repair bills and annoyed renters. Not only do you need to be ready to handle freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but it’s also imperative to carry out critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and help you protect the value of your investment property.
Here are 10 essential outdoor and indoor tasks that will get your rental property ready for winter!
Outdoor
- Check your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any cracks or leaks that could allow moisture or cold air to soak in. Closing any cracks and restoring damaged areas can help prevent water from getting inside your rental homes, which can bring about costly repairs and mold growth.
- Make sure all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to prevent them from freezing during winter. Often checking for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Review your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to make sure they are clear of garbage and functioning correctly. Congested gutters can result in flooding during heavy rain and snow, while defective drainage systems can cause water to gather in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to expensive restorations.
- Begin installing a protective coating or sealant on your rental property’s driveway, sidewalk, and steps to help avoid cracking and damage from the cold weather. This will help ensure that these zones are safe and easy to navigate during the winter while protecting your rental property’s curb appeal.
- Cut back trees and prepare your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by trimming them back. Also, be 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 tidy.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. This is because ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will aid in forcing warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters nice and warm during the cold winter months.
- Undergo annual furnace maintenance by a qualified professional to guarantee that your rental property’s heating system works right. Regularly servicing your Timberlake rental home’s heating system will help reduce the risk of emergency repair needs and stretch the life of your investment property’s major systems.
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your rental properties to make sure they are in great working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies, including fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading old-fashioned smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Assess all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to ensure they are functioning correctly and that there are no leaks or clogs that could cause extreme challenges during the winter months. Regularly assessing these areas will not only save you money on major maintenance, but it can also help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Inspect and clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are common causes of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, ensuring that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in good working order is essential.
As a rental property owner, you must comply with the right precautions to prepare your investment properties for winter. Following these tasks can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing unnecessary repairs and damage.
Still, completing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be troublesome. This is especially the case during the busy holiday season. Yet, the experts at Real Property Management Trustworthy can help! Contact us online today to learn more about our quality services.
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