Timing your yearly maintenance tasks with the seasons is a great way to keep track of your rental property’s routine maintenance requirements. You should have a mix of seasonal tasks that prepare your rental property for winter and routine yearly tasks for the fall season.
Add these fall maintenance reminders to your rental property checklist.
1. Check the Smoke Detectors
There is no need to risk your entire investment over a simple smoke detector check. Locate each smoke detector and push the test button. If it’s still working, you’ll hear the test beep. Change any batteries that are getting low or are dead. Doing this will ensure that your rental home and the tenants living there are protected.
2. Check for Air Leaks
Air leaks allow the warm air from inside to escape outside. This puts more wear and tear on your HVAC system to keep the home adequately heated during the winter. Sealing up any leaks is the easiest way to reduce this unnecessary demand on your HVAC system and reduce operating costs. Check the windows, doors, attic, baseboards, and even electrical sockets for any possible leaks. Use caulk or weather stripping to seal up the leaks.
3. Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Have a professional come out and service the HVAC system. The best time of year for this is spring and fall when demand on the system is at its lowest. The technician can clean and check the system, paying particular attention to the heating elements. That way, it’s in working order and ready for service when the temperature drops enough for the tenant to want it on. Waiting on this task puts the tenant at risk of not having heat. Then it’s an emergency to get someone out and make the necessary repairs. HVAC technicians are also in higher demand when it’s colder, making it harder to get someone out right away.
4. Clean the Gutters
This unpleasant yet necessary task is crucial for maintaining the gutters. Clean out any debris, leaves, pine needles, branches, or anything else that might be in the gutters. Anything left in there can block the flow of water. Standing water can freeze in cold weather, adding extra weight and stress to the gutter’s attachment points. Standing water can also attract vermin and pests that will eventually make their way into your home. If the gutter is also in a shady spot, mold and mildew can start to grow.
5. Check the Roof
While you or someone else is up on a ladder cleaning the gutters, take this time to also check the roof. The shingles should be in good condition, with none of them loose or missing. None of the corners should be lifted. Look for possible vulnerable spots where water could get in. Now is the time to make roof repairs before winter hits. Otherwise, you risk moisture getting in and possibly freezing, creating a bigger leak problem and even more damage.
6. Landscaping
While landscaping be done on the rental property year-round, fall is a good time to do an in-depth job. Now that it’s the end of summer, it should be clear where the dead branches are. Leaving these on the trees creates a hazard where they could fall and cause damage or injury. Additionally, trim back any plants that may have overgrown during the summer months. Trim the grass and tidy up the edges.
Take Note of These Fall maintenance Reminders
Working with a property manager is an easy way to ensure your rental property gets the necessary maintenance to retain its value. An experienced rental property manager knows what should be done to care for Texas real estate and can even provide you with guidance or tips on additional tasks that might be unique to your property.
Contact our skilled team of property managers today and find out how easy it is to arrange fall maintenance for your rental property.
