Landlord Tips: Keep Your Rental in Tip-Top Shape Year-Round
There are many benefits to take advantage of by making sure that your rental home stays in optimal shape all year, such as the ability to save money on repairs and the opportunity to keep tenants happy so they'll stay longer and keep paying their rent on time. There are a variety of things you can do to keep your home protected throughout the years. Here are some important pointers to consider.
The HVAC System
More than likely, your tenants will be using the HVAC system throughout the year to keep indoor temperatures comfortable. By having your HVAC contractor inspect and clean the system on a yearly basis, you'll save your tenants money on energy costs, increase air quality, and minimize the need for unnecessary repairs year round. You should also provide your tenants with replacement filters or cleaning supplies for filters that aren't replaceable so it's convenient for them to keep up with filter maintenance.
Having the ducts sealed every few years is an excellent way to keep your tenants safe and reduce liability as well as enhance the performance of your rental home's HVAC system overall. Implementing some new insulation into your rental home is another great way to reduce wear and tear on the HVAC system. By applying insulation film to the windows, installing weather stripping around the doors, and introducing ceiling fans, you can make sure your tenants won't need to use the air conditioner or heater as often, and that should could down on maintenance needs and repair costs as time goes on.
The Plumbing
There is no doubt that faucets in your rental home will be turned on and off several times every day. This means that your plumbing system needs to stay in optimal working condition to keep up with demand without breaking down in some way. Like the HVAC system, the plumbing should be inspected on a yearly basis to ensure that there aren't any small problems that need to be addressed before they become too serious.
It's also important to include a stipulation in your lease that prevents tenants from using liquid drain cleaners when a pipe gets clogged. These cleaners can damage your pipes and create the need for expensive repairs if used too often, so it's best to avoid such cleaners altogether. If a clog occurs, have your tenants contact a designated plumber that you've chosen to take care of the problem. Find a plumber to work with who is willing to bill you three or four times a year for any work done at your rental home so your tenants won't have to pay anything out of pocket at the time services are rendered.
The Landscaping
If your landscaping isn't easy to take care of, it may deteriorate over time, and that can create a whole host of problems such as poor drainage and create an inviting habitat for unwanted critters. The best way to avoid landscaping problems is to plan a basic design that will be easy for your tenants to care for no matter how busy their lives are. Eliminate as much grass as possible by replacing it with gravel, dirt, or cement walkways, and ditch the flower beds in favor of hedges or bushes that are colorful yet don't require much maintenance.
Landscaping with trees will not only fill the space out and give it some character, but the process will likely increase your overall property value by up to 20 percent. That means you will be able to charge higher rental rates. Trees are typically easy to take care of, and they'll protect the home from exterior elements while improving energy efficiency. Consider planting fruit trees so your tenants can enjoy free food throughout the year. Trees that don't lose their leaves in the autumn, such as Japanese evergreen oaks and fiddleleaf figs, are also great options because tenants won't have a lot of raking to do.
These tips and tricks should make it easy for you to keep your rental home in great shape even when you aren't there to oversee things yourself. Call a company like A Absolute Plumbing & Heating for more information.