As a Coconut Creek property manager, it is essential to prepare your properties for winter. The cold weather can be brutal on homes and buildings, and if your rentals are not adequately equipped, you could wind yourself with expensive repair bills and dissatisfied renters. Not only must you be prepared for freezing temperatures and inclement weather, but you must also do vital maintenance on your property’s major systems. This might help you prevent emergencies and 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
- Evaluate your rental property’s exterior walls, roof, and windows for any cracks or leaks that could let in moisture or cold air. Covering any cracks and addressing damaged areas can help keep water from penetrating inside your rental homes, which can lead to expensive repairs and mold growth.
- Ensure all outdoor pipes and fixtures are wrapped with insulation or heat tape to prevent them from freezing during winter. Regularly checking for frozen pipes and thawing them as needed will help prevent burst pipes and flooding in your rental properties.
- Examine your rental property’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems to verify that they are free from dirt and functioning appropriately. Obstructed gutters can bring flooding during heavy rain and snow, while broken drainage systems can allow water to pool in the foundation of your rental homes and lead to pricey restorations.
- Consider 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 guarantee that these places 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 cutting them back. In addition, you must 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 clean.
Indoor
- Reverse the direction of all ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should spin clockwise in warm temperatures and counterclockwise in cold temps. This is done because ceiling fans turning in a counterclockwise direction will help force warm air down to the floor, which can help keep your renters nice and cozy during the severe winter months.
- Organize annual furnace maintenance by a qualified expert to guarantee that your rental property’s heating system works right. Consistently servicing your Coconut Creek rental home’s heating system will help lessen the risk of emergency repair demands and prolong 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 good working order, as these devices could save lives during emergencies like fires or gas leaks. Replacing or upgrading obsolete smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can help keep your rental properties safe and secure.
- Inspect all faucets, drains, and appliances in your rental properties to make certain they are functioning properly and that there are no leaks or clogs that could produce massive problems during the winter months. Constantly monitoring these spaces will not only save you dollars on costly restorations, but it can also help prevent water damage in your rental homes.
- Examine and clean each fireplace and chimney. Dirty fireplaces and soot build-up inside chimneys are frequent triggers of house fires during the winter. To protect your rental property and renters, guaranteeing that all flues and chimneys are clear of buildup and in good working order is important.
As a rental property owner, you must adopt the necessary actions to prepare your investment properties for winter. Performing these activities can help keep your renters warm and safe during the cold season while preventing major repairs and damage.
However, completing preventative maintenance on a schedule can be complex. This is doubly true during the busy holiday season. Yet, the professionals at Real Property Management Forte can aid! Contact us online today to learn more about our quality services.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
