As a Ludlow property manager, it is important to ensure your properties are ready for winter. The cold weather can be harsh on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not properly prepared, you could end up with costly repair bills and unhappy renters. Not only do you need to be ready to deal with freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but it’s also important to perform critical maintenance on your property’s major systems. This can help prevent emergencies and help you protect the value of your investment property.
The following are ten essential outdoor and indoor tasks that will get your rental property ready for winter!
Outdoor
- Assess your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any deterioration or leaks that could allow moisture or cold air to soak in. Closing any cracks and fixing broken sections will help keep water out inside your rental homes, preventing costly repairs and mold growth.
- Make sure all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to protect them from freezing during winter. Routinely inspecting for frozen pipes and thawing them as necessary will effectively deter burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Check your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to ensure they are free from waste and functioning right. Blocked gutters can cause flooding during heavy rain and snow, while defective drainage systems can lead to water gathering in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to expensive maintenance.
- Start installing a protective coating or sealant on your rental property’s driveway, sidewalk, and steps to help avoid cracking and breakage from the cold weather. This can assist in ensuring that these sections are safe and easy to navigate during the winter while protecting your rental property’s curb appeal.
- Cut back trees and arrange your landscaping for winter. If your property has trees, bushes, and shrubs, get them ready for winter months by pruning them back. Furthermore, 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 neat.
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 assist in pushing warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters nice and warm throughout the cold winter months.
- Hire a qualified professional to conduct annual furnace maintenance to guarantee that your rental property’s heating system works properly. Regularly servicing your Ludlow rental home’s heating system will help decrease 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 check if they are in proper working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies like fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading old-fashioned smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make your rental properties safe and secure.
- Inspect all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to check if they are functioning well and that there are no leaks or clogs that could produce severe issues during the winter months. Routinely checking these locations will not only save you money on expensive problems, but it can also help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Check and wash each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are typical triggers of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, make sure that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in proper working order is necessary.
As a rental property owner, you must employ the necessary measures to prepare your investment properties for winter. Performing these activities can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing pricey repairs and damage.
Still, having preventative maintenance on a schedule can be challenging. This is particularly the case during the busy holiday season. Yet, the pros at Real Property Management Bay State West can assist! Contact us online today to learn more about our quality services.
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