Posted by: Debbie Huff, 1/14/11
Winter Tips for your Property
While you’re pulling out your sweaters and other winter clothes to bundle yourself up, give a thought to bundling up your rental properties for winter also. Taking a few minutes of preventative work is well worth the effort if it means avoiding expensive, emergency calls on a cold winter’s night. Give your tenants a checklist or schedule a maintenance visit and follow the checklist yourself. Here are some of the big things to check:
Winter Tips for your Property
While you’re pulling out your sweaters and other winter clothes to bundle yourself up, give a thought to bundling up your rental properties for winter also. Taking a few minutes of preventative work is well worth the effort if it means avoiding expensive, emergency calls on a cold winter’s night. Give your tenants a checklist or schedule a maintenance visit and follow the checklist yourself. Here are some of the big things to check:
- Make sure you have the heating system inspected and the property well insulated. An efficient furnace and proper insulation will cut down on energy costs. Window air conditioners should be taken out or covered to prevent heat leaking out.
- Clean out any fireplace chimneys and check the flue for any blockages. An unsafe fireplace and chimney puts your property at risk for fire, smoke damage, and/or water damage.
- Speaking of water, hoses need to be drained and pipes need to be checked in case they need insulation. Clean all the leaves out of the gutters so the water flow won’t be restricted. Keep track of areas where water settles on sidewalks, especially in high traffic areas. Check properties early in the morning on hard freeze days and take care of any slippery surfaces before anyone falls.
- Check air filters and batteries in all smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
- Last, but not least, it would be a good idea to find out if your residents plan to be away for a long period of time so you can take any necessary precautions in their absence.
Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t done any of this winter prep yet. While it’s easier to complete before the cold temperatures settle in, it’s never too late to make some improvements. And while you’re at it, go ahead and put this year’s winter maintenance on your calendar today!
I’m sure you’ve heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, even though it’s not a guarantee for an accident free winter, a day of winter preparation is worth a week of expensive repairs.