Springtime - Property Assessment, Cleaning and Preparation:
Whether you are an owner landlord with one property or several, Spring is a season that should require a checklist. We are just under a month away from the official start of Spring, and the first thing to dust off is your checklist. Below is the checklist Westy Properties uses for properties we manage, rentals we own and our own homes (mostly).
Inside the home inspections
Test/Inspect and potentially replace the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Ensure you are meeting the municipal regulations on these items as well.
Perform an internal inspection of leaks on windows, skylights, doors and ceilings
Perform an operational inspection on appliances provided to your tenants
Flush the drains
Inspect Roof, Gutters, Siding, and Seals
Our winters have become more and more aggressive over the years. The winds and freezing temperatures coupled with normal wear and tear can open up risks to the building envelope. It is important for potential weather conditions, energy costs and pest control to inspect and rectify issues quickly. If you need or want recommendations on good sealants, resources to inspect or fix issues please reach out to services@westyproperties.com for support.
Take Care of Loose Limbs and Hazards
Loose limbs and dead trees are a major eyesore for neighbors and tenants as well as a potential safety hazard. Dealing with trees needs to involve regular review of updated municipality regulations, proper disposal, the trimming or removal itself, cleaning the remaining debris and potentially ensuring utilities are not impacted. While dealing with the trees consider trimming hedges and shrubs. There are safety and security issues, ease of access, visual appeal and removal of nuisance and inconvenience associated with doing so.
Get Grass Trimmed and Seeded
Whether your tenant, property manager, landscaper or you are responsible for the lawn care there are many benefits to keeping a well groomed lawn.
Reduction of insects
Easier to see the landmines left by pets
Harder for pests to hide and scare tenants
Increase probability of socializing (could improve the tenant mood)
It is not only your right to perform spot inspections of lawn care if the tenant or landscaper are responsible for lawn care it is necessary. You should also have a clause in your lease indicating a failure to maintain the lawn results in the lawn care fee being added to rent.
Examine Foundations, Porches, Decks, and Overhangs
As things thaw out, there’s another opportunity for you to check crawl spaces, porches, decks, and overhangs. Weather can create many problems for foundations, and exterior spaces. Wood expands and contracts but also rots over time, so check boards and beams to make sure things are structurally sound. Concrete is porous and can absorb water, ensure the foundation is hard, not crumbling, and free of cracks. If there are issues you must deal with them quickly to avoid spreading. It’s also smart to close any gaps/openings beneath porches and decks so that rodents and other animals don’t find their way inside and create a home for themselves!
Wash & Seal Walkways + Driveways
Spring brings sun (when it isn’t raining), this often means people are outside more. This is a good time to check paved and concrete surfaces like walking paths and driveways at the property. Tenants don’t want to walk over uneven and potentially dangerous surfaces...and landlords don’t want to be held responsible if they fall. To avoid the headache, take care of serious cracks and potholes by patching resealing.
Clean Flower Beds & Yard Debris
This isn’t just about curb appeal, tenant happiness and/or gaining interest in your rental. Although, a clean and neat yard accomplishes all of those things as well. Most landscaping also has the added benefit of allowing visibility to the property and seeing how it is treated, as well as a reduction in pests like insects and rodents.
Walk Property Boundaries
Going back to a landlord regulated responsibility of “safety”, inspecting fences, sheds, off buildings, etc. allow you to see if there are unwanted guests living in hidden areas or maybe just damage that needs to be repaired. Preventing issues is the first step in reducing issues.