If you are a residential investor or property manager, you know that maintenance is key to keeping your properties, including multifamily properties, in good shape and rentable. No one wants to rent a home or apartment that is in disrepair. In addition, proper maintenance can save you money, protect your property and increase its value over time. Therefore, these are a few items you should add to your fall maintenance schedule.
Inspect and Treat Your Landscaping
If you start on the outside of the house, your first task should be inspecting your landscaping. Make sure your plants are healthy and prepared for the winter. Dead limbs should be removed from your trees and bushes. They should also be trimmed away from your home and its foundation. Perennial flowers with bulbs or rhizomes should be trimmed to the ground and mulched. Treat your lawn through aeration, thatching, fertilization and seeding.
Evaluate Windows and Doors
You don’t want heat leaking in the winter, so check the seals along all your windows and doors. Check for rattling or light around the window frames or doors, and address these problems. Make sure they fit properly in their frames and don’t have any cracks around them. Caulk any cracks you find, and add weather stripping where necessary.
Check Your HVAC Systems
Not only should you regularly replace your HVAC filters, but you should have these systems serviced during the fall. Routine maintenance extends the life of your furnace. A maintenance program should include cleaning and making adjustments so these systems work properly and efficiently. Have the service provider check for carbon monoxide leaks as well.
Address Your Roof
Inspect your roof for sun or weather damage. Look for cracks, chips or other damage in the roofing materials. Your gutters and downspouts should also be inspected and cleaned out to prevent foundation damage and flooding. Chimneys should be inspected and cleaned if necessary. Finally, look inside the attic and at the ceilings for leaks, stains or sagging. Peeling wallpaper or cracked paint may also suggest roof leaks.
Inspect Your Basement or Crawl Space
Look for cracks and other damage in your basement or crawl space. Have any sump pumps inspected and serviced. Remove debris and dirt from the pump, and check your float and valves to ensure they are working properly. You service provider may even pour water into the pump to ensure it is working properly and moving the water out of and away from your home.
Your income relies on maintaining your properties so they can be rented. Although it is time consuming, especially for multifamily units, make sure you conduct your fall maintenance.
