Proper maintenance is important for every rental property! It is no secret that a well-maintained property is attractive to tenants. Therefore, having good and timely maintenance will help in reducing property vacancies and preserve and protect your property's condition.
As a landlord, you should always ensure that your property is well maintained. This will greatly improve the relationship between you and your tenants.
Often times, property owners will neglect maintenance, or put too much responsibility on their tenants. However, if you want to have a smooth-running investment, keeping the property in its best condition is crucial.
In this article, we are outlining our top tips for maintaining your rental property.
1. Outline Each Party's Responsibilities
There should be a clause in the lease agreement that states each party's responsibility.
Typically, tenants are responsible for the regular cleaning and minor maintenance of their spaces. On the other hand, landlords take care of maintenance issues involving electrical, heating and plumbing systems, as well as garbage collection and other major maintenance tasks.
2. Have Open Communication
If tenants notice a maintenance issue, they should contact you right away so that the issue doesn't worsen. There should be an open communication channel where tenants can reach you to report any issues they may notice.
3. Perform Routine Inspections
Routine inspections will ensure that you always know the condition of your building. Such inspections also help in the longevity of the property.
During a property inspection, here are a few of the things you should check:
- Appliances. Ensure that all appliances are functional. If some don't work, be sure to replace or repair them.
- General Condition of the Building. Thoroughly inspect the condition of the furniture, floors and walls, doors and windows, handrails, stairs, and lifts (if any).
- Health and Sanitation. Check for pests, mold, blocked drains, faulty plumbing and leaks.
- Legal Checks. Ensure there is adequate access to escape routes, working electrical and water supplies and functioning smoke detectors and alarms.
- Care for the HVAC System. From time to time, it's crucial to check that the HVAC system is functioning well. You should make sure that the air ducts are cleaned, check the belts and bearings, replace air fillers and remove standing water.
By having routine inspections in your property, you'll be able to spot minor issues and fix them before they escalate and become major or expensive. Routine inspections also ensure that your property stays in good condition all year long.
4. Hire Professional Contractors and Technicians
As a landlord, you should always find professionals to help you with maintenance. Although finding cheap technicians seems like a good idea, they may not offer you quality services.
You should try to find professionals who understand their job and offer you quality services, even if that means spending a bit more money!
Always make sure that your technicians are licensed and have valid insurance covers.
5. Take Advantage of Pest Control
Make sure that you take pest control measures for your building. Pests in a unit can be very unattractive to tenants. Therefore, it can lead to high turnover rates and long vacancy periods. That's why you want to avoid pests completely.
As a landlord, you should be the one to deal with pests. Don't leave this responsibility to the tenant.
If you lack experience handling pests, then you should consider contacting a pest control company that can carry out regular pest control measures to ensure that you never have to deal with such issues.
6. Budget your Money
Ensure that you always put aside funds for property maintenance. A good landlord is always prepared for a rainy day.
Always have an estimate of the amount of money needed for certain repairs, especially occasional repairs needed in a building. Then, put it aside to be used when needed. This will help you to have a fast response in case of an emergency.
In Conclusion: Maintenance Tips for Your Rental Properties
Proper property maintenance is key for a successful rental property! It will help you reduce property vacancies and preserve and protect your property's condition.
As an overview, here are some of the things you can do to have well-maintained units:
- Outline each party's responsibilities
- Have open communication
- Perform routine inspections
- Hire professional contractors and technicians
- Take advantage of pest control
- Budget your money
If you're looking for help with maintaining your properties, conducting repairs, or just managing your rentals in general, we can help!
Contact TE Johnsons & Sons today to help relieve the stress of managing your rental properties. TE Johnsons & Sons is a property management company that can offer you a variety of property management services.
Contact us today to learn more!
