The ultimate property preventive maintenance checklist – why do you need it Every landlord knows preventative property maintenance is essential to running a successful rental business. Lack of timely maintenance, more than anything, brings rental property business crashing down. Follow this guide to perform preventative maintenance and save yourself headaches, time, and money.
The ultimate property preventive maintenance checklist.
As a landlord, conducting a thorough property walk-through at least once a year is advisable. And having a checklist handy, ensures that nothing gets missed out.
Violations to the Lease Agreement.
On occasion, and unfortunately so, tenants indulge in activities they should not. So, a maintenance walk-through is a good opportunity to check for actions that may be causing damage to your property. These could be simple things like smoking inside the property, unregistered people living on the property, or having a pet that is not allowed under the terms of the lease. Or there could be activities leading to more severe violations, even criminal charges by law enforcement in the state of Florida.
Look for damage from water leaks.
Water is probably the most common problem. It can start as a small trickle, ending up with a lot of damage to your rental property. And since the goal of the property walk-through is to find any small issue leading to bigger hassles, water damage certainly fits the bill.
Look through all the water sources, indoors and outdoors, making sure there are no leaks. Or water collecting under leaking faucets and taps. In addition to maintenance headaches, puddles are great breeding grounds for mosquitos to lay eggs resulting in more, you know…mosquitos! All the faucets and toilets should be working properly with no signs of drips or leaks. Look out for signs of mold on ceilings and walls, as rainwater can find its way into the smallest cracks and fissures. Even in the absence of mold or mildew, leaks can ruin a beautiful paint finish in no time. Leading to expensive repairs and re-painting jobs.
Inspect the caulk and grout for aging and cracks in the bathrooms. Re-caulking is a simple affair and adds to the bathroom’s look. More than a nice cosmetic touch, it also helps contain water, limiting the damage from a leak. Check drains for clogging to ensure that water runs through the sinks, bath, and shower freely.
Replace filters in the air conditioner.
Over time and use, filters can get clogged and dirty, especially in the hot and humid Florida climate. Clogged filters mean your systems have to work harder to filter out the dust particles in air-conditioned spaces. Overloading risks HVAC failure or major damage, leading to expensive repairs and replacements. Replacing the air filters in your air conditioner at least twice a year ensures the units work well and provide the cool, fresh clean air you expect of them!
Checking the operation of smoke (and carbon monoxide detectors).
Every thorough property inspection should include this important task. For the peace of mind of both, landlords and tenants. By testing the alarms and replacing batteries, you can ensure that they are working and meeting the health and safety statuettes under Florida law.
Cleaning up roofs and gutters.
A damaged roof is a common source of water leaks. And simple leaks can lead to majorly expensive roofing repairs over time. Look out for missing shingles that may have been blown off in a storm, or piles of fallen leaves clogging up drains. Pay special attention to storm drains and covers installed on your property.
How we can help.
It is advisable to conduct preventive property maintenance on your property, at least once a year. Annual inspections are part and parcel of the property rental business, even if they take up time. Keeping your property in prime condition can increase its value by over 50% in ten years! And if you need professional and pocket-friendly services, give the experts at Real Property Management Premier a call.
Real Property Management Premier knows that one of the best ways to avoid middle-of-the-night calls is by being a proactive property manager. Instead of trying to manage property walk-throughs and inspections by yourself, why not let Real Property Management Premier do it for you?
We believe a little bit of maintenance goes a long way as an investment to avoid larger, long-term problems. Our property management professionals have the necessary knowledge and required experience. Look no further than Real Property Management Premier.
Contact us online or call 954-800-4433 and ask our property managers about our services in detail.
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