With so many moving parts, property maintenance can seem overwhelming for those who own investment homes. Yet, it's a vital part of being a landlord.
Proactive measures help keep maintenance expenses under control. They limit maintenance requests and keep your tenants happy.
Keep reading to explore our best tips for keeping your investment property in great shape to preserve its value and appeal.
Compile a Property Maintenance Schedule
Your property needs three types of maintenance, i.e., scheduled maintenance, emergency maintenance, and corrective maintenance.
Setting up a calendar for scheduled maintenance can help you avoid the other two types of maintenance by preventing unnecessary breakages and malfunctions.
These are some things to include on your roster:
- Bi-annual HVAC filter changes
- Spring gutter cleaning
- Tree trimming in the winter
- Furnace cleaning
- Carpet cleaning
- Summer lawn care
- Checking weather stripping and insulation
- Servicing appliances annually
Prioritize Property Inspections
When you visit your investment property, you can talk to your tenants about any issues they're experiencing. As a landlord, it's your responsibility to keep the home in an acceptable condition.
Go through the building with a maintenance checklist in hand. Some of the items to include on your list are:
- Testing the HVAC system
- Inspecting for plumbing leaks and clogged pipes
- Testing electrical outlets and breaker panels
- Test security alarms and door locks
- Checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Look for damage to roofing, siding, and windows
- Check fire extinguishers
These visits are also a convenient time to arrange seasonal and routine maintenance. Be advised that regulations about habitability include reasonable accommodations to protect your tenants against criminal activity.
Build Excellent Relationships With Vendors
Prompt attention to tenant maintenance requests is the key to preserving your property and encouraging lease renewals. An online tenant portal can help you with this, but it's invaluable to have reliable vendors on call to attend to these matters.
An efficient vendor helps save you time, effort, and money. Look for reliable local companies to assist with appliance repairs, plumbing, and electrical services.
You can also set up maintenance contracts with some companies, like pest control services and roofing specialists. This will help you stick to your maintenance program.
These professionals have the tools, personnel, and experience to address problems effectively. Many offer a 24-hour helpline for their customers, so they can assist you at all hours.
Building positive relationships with these vendors helps ensure swift resolutions for emergency repairs. It also helps prevent further damage to your property.
Do you own more than one property? Some vendors offer preferential rates for bulk business.
Hire a Property Management Team
Property management companies can fulfill all the above responsibilities on your behalf. They carry out routine inspections and manage maintenance requests via a network of established and trustworthy professionals.
PMI of Greater Milwaukee is backed by over 20 years of experience in Milwaukee property maintenance and management. We also offer a full range of property management services like, lease origination, tenant screening, and rent collection.
Discover the easy way to keep your properties in tip-top shape today.
