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:
1. Make sure you have the heating system inspected and the property well insulated. An efficient furnace and insulation will cut down on energy costs. Window air conditioners should be taken out or covered to prevent heat leaking out.
2. Don’t forget to 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.
3. Speaking of water, hoses need to be drained and pipes need to be checked in case they need insulation also. It would be a good time to clean all the leaves out of the gutters so the water flow won’t be restricted. If you have a property that uses a swamp cooler it will need to be serviced. Keep track of areas where water settles on sidewalks, especially in high traffic areas. It’s a good idea to have a mop handy as well as some shovels and ice melt to prevent falls.
4. Last but not least, check air filters and batteries in any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. It would also be a good idea to know if your residents will be away during the holidays 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 snow and cold temperatures settle in, it’s never too late to make some improvements. And be sure to schedule this winter maintenance on your new calendar for the next winter season 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.
