Spring is just around the corner. People are pumped up to spend more time in the sun. If you are the property manager, you have a very important responsibility—keep your property well-maintained and make it ‘spring-ready’.
Maintenance is an essential need for every property. Preventive maintenance is always better than reactive maintenance as it will ensure that there are no unnecessary repairs or major damages to the property later on. You can also avoid a deluge of maintenance requests from your tenants. As the property manager, you also need to keep the property in a healthy state at all times, more so in seasons like spring, as it gives you enough time to prepare your building for the scorching summer heat.
In this article, let’s take a look at a few things that should be an essential part of your spring property management activities.
Spring property maintenance tips
Check the gutters
We all check and clean our gutters during and after the fall season as they will be clogged with fallen leaves. But it is also important to clean the gutter before the onset of the spring season. The reason is simple—winter storms tend to bring in a lot of debris from the surroundings that end up clogging the gutters.
So check the downspouts and gutters for any debris. You can simply use the garden hose to loosen this debris and unclog the gutters. This step is essential as it eliminates water damage to the interior of the building and prevents roof leaks.
Check for moisture build-up
Winter and moisture go hand-in-hand and can cause a lot of damage to the property if left untreated. When moisture and cold come together, it ends up creating mildew or mold on the property. Ask your tenants to keep an eye out for any mold formation in the interior due to moisture buildup in the winter.
If there was heavy rain recently, inspect your properties thoroughly. Look out for small puddles in the basement and attic that can lead to mold growth. Also, look out for any musty smell in these spaces. If there is one, dehumidify the area to avoid property damage.
Check the roof
The roof is the most vulnerable part of the property as it is constantly subjected to various external damages. When the winds are high, the shingles can loosen up, which would allow insects and rain to get inside. If the damage is big, it can also invite raccoons, squirrels, and other animals to get onto the roof.
Yards are usually small, which makes it difficult for tenants to take a good look at the roof. So as the property manager, you need to make sure that the maintenance technician uses a ladder to go on the roof for a closer inspection. This should be an important part of your move-in/move-out maintenance tasks.
Do a mechanical maintenance
Machinery on your property needs to be regularly maintained. This includes pumps, furnaces, HVAC, filters, etc. Conduct inspection and maintenance of these machines at regular intervals and see if there are issues of note. You can also conduct a simple inspection and check for any unusual sounds or blinking lights.
Perform lawn maintenance
In the spring season, your tenants are going to spend a good time on the lawn conducting pool parties and barbeques. Hence it is essential to maintain the lawn and keep it neat and tidy. Before you start lawn maintenance, you need to ensure that you have all the spring home maintenance needs for lawns, such as a lawnmower. All that is left is cleaning the garden for outgrown weeds, pests, and grubs.
Arrange for foundation vents maintenance
Similar to gutters, vents also tend to be affected by debris due to winter storms. The recessed screens on the vents attract leaves, organic materials, and twigs during the winter and fall. You can clean the vent by using a vacuum cleaner or even by hand.
Check the plumbing
You need to check the plumbing because there was a major temperature change during the winter. This can often lead to blocks and leakages if not checked. Perform all the basic tests on indoor and outdoor plumbing systems such as sump pumps, faucets, patio drains, pipes, and irrigation systems.
Check the electrical connections
Strong winter winds tend to damage different electrical equipment pieces on the property. Even the temperature change could have affected the free wirings. So check if all the wiring is good. Ensure that there are no trips and that all the equipment is working properly. Don’t forget to check all the bulbs on your rental properties. It is quite common for outdoor bulbs to get damaged due to winds and moisture during the winters.
Conclusion
As the property manager of your building, spring maintenance for your rental properties is an important component of your job description. A well-maintained property ensures there is no room for structural damage to your property.
In case you are overwhelmed with duties, you can even take the help of a property management company or property management software. Both of them can be your allies during your regular spring cleaning and maintenance of property activities.
