There's been a slight increase in residential vacancy rates in Utah lately. That means landlords may need to fight a little harder to keep the tenants they have or acquire new ones.
One way to ensure your rental home never loses its appeal is by staying up-to-date with your property maintenance tasks. If you've been a landlord for any length of time, you know how quickly maintenance costs can add up.
Read on for tips about how to stay ahead of these costs by implementing an ongoing maintenance plan.
Create a Maintenance Calendar
By law, landlord responsibilities include an obligation to maintain their property in a habitable condition. Ongoing property maintenance is one way to ensure you comply with this.
The best way to keep track of all these tasks is by making a list and spreading them out over the year. This helps you perform seasonal tasks on time and helps you stick to a maintenance budget.
Some of the routine tasks you must undertake include the following:
- Pest control
- Landscaping and lawn care
- Bi-annual HVAC inspections
- Fall gutter cleaning
- Snow removal
- Annual roof inspections
- Servicing safety devices like smoke detectors
When you engage with local contractors and schedule these services with them, you can often get better prices. You'll also know who to call when you need emergency repairs.
Schedule Maintenance According to a Checklist
Routine property inspections are an excellent way to check up on your property maintenance needs. They're also an opportunity to build positive relationships with your tenants and check if they're complying with their lease agreement.
As you go through your home, it's best to work according to a checklist of important items. These are some things to include on your list:
- Heating and cooling equipment
- Electrical and plumbing fixtures
- Fire safety equipment
- Carbon monoxide monitors
You may also use these visits to attend to minor maintenance tasks, like replacing HVAC filters or the batteries in your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
Practice Clear Communications
Communication is key to streamlining property maintenance and avoiding inconvenience for your tenants. You must give your tenants at least 48 hours notice before entering their rental home.
Some maintenance tasks can disrupt their daily routine. Be sure to advise them of these matters well in advance so they can plan.
Likewise, ongoing communication with vendors and contractors is essential for the coordination of their appointments and payments. A property management portal is a good way to manage all these communication streams.
Hire a Property Management Team
Every landlord can benefit from some help with keeping their properties well-maintained. A property manager can help you do just that.
Tier One Real Estate LLC can help you stay on top of your property maintenance easily and effectively. We offer a range of property management services to help streamline this time-consuming aspect.
Our services include a move-in inspection, ongoing property inspections, and maintenance coordination. We are committed to helping our landlords avoid vacancies and maintain the value of their properties.
Discover the easy way to master property maintenance today.
