It’s ironic: The best thing investors can do for their rental properties is often the easiest thing to overlook. We’re talking about preventative maintenance. Yes, maintenance requires some planning, and there’s certainly a cost associated with it. But taking maintenance seriously saves you time and money, and it can also save you the headache and hassle of dealing with emergency repairs.
At HUNTAHOME, we offer property management in Dallas and Fort Worth, including property maintenance services for landlords. Here’s a look at why preventative maintenance is essential for your real estate investment, as well as a few maintenance categories that deserve extra special attention.
Why is Preventative Maintenance so Important?
Why is preventative maintenance so important? Because it makes your life as a property owner so much easier. Here’s a look at 4 reasons why regular preventative maintenance should be the keystone of your investment strategy:
- You Save Money
Preventative maintenance puts money in your pocket. According to the book “Your Money: The Missing Manual,” every dollar spent on maintenance is worth $100 in repairs. That’s an incredible ratio.
Think about it this way: Regular maintenance for your garage door, HVAC unit, water heater, gutters and other major systems in your home can prevent more costly emergency repairs down the road.
Yes, there’s an expense associated with preventative maintenance. But that expense is nothing compared to the much larger amount you’ll pay if you ignore maintenance needs.
- You Avoid Emergencies
A landlord’s worst nightmare is the phone ringing in the middle of the night. Perhaps the air conditioner has quit working, a toilet is overflowing or a critter has found its way into the attic. No matter what the middle-of-the-night issue is, there’s a strong chance maintenance could have prevented it.
Avoiding emergencies helps you save money, too. If you have to call for after-hours or weekend service, you often pay a premium for the service call. And, if you choose to wait until regular business hours, there’s a chance you will need to put your tenants up in a hotel for the night — this is especially true when the AC goes out in the heart of a Texas summer.
- Your Property Becomes More Attractive
A well-maintained property is a more attractive property, and a more attractive property is easy to lease at a premium rate. If you schedule regular and preventative maintenance, you take care of your property in real-time. That is, it’s comfortable for your existing tenants, and it’s always ready for showings if and when you need to find new tenants.
If you choose to pass on preventative maintenance, your property will start to look less and less attractive over time. Your existing tenants will feel less connected to the property, and you’ll need to do significant work if and when you need to find new tenants.
It’s far easier and more affordable to take care of maintenance on a regular basis.
- Your Property Increases in Value
Maintenance makes your property more attractive to existing and prospective residents, and it also makes your property more attractive to potential buyers when it’s time to sell.
Take a look at the partial maintenance checklist below. If you’ve been taking care of your property’s HVAC unit, water heater, gutters, chimney and other important systems and components, you’re going to be able to sell your property at its peak value.
A Brief Maintenance Checklist
Maintenance can feel overwhelming sometimes, which is why it’s a good idea to secure property maintenance services for landlords. But, if you’re choosing to self-manage, start by focusing on the following systems, components and maintenance needs:
- HVAC: Make sure your tenants are changing filters regularly, and get your HVAC unit serviced in late winter or early spring — just before summer and 100-degree days arrive.
- Water Heater: Your property’s water heater needs annual maintenance, too, including a check of its pressure release valve and the removal of sediment.
- Gutters: Standing water is a threat to your home. Gutters are designed to move water away from your property — but they can’t do their job unless they are cleaned out on a regular basis.
- Trees: Replacing a roof is one of the most costly home improvement projects you’ll ever undertake. Extend the life of your property’s roof by trimming back trees to keep them from scraping at shingles.
- Attic: Your attic needs a regular inspection. What are you looking for? Check for leaks, pests and insulation damage.
- Chimney: If your property includes a chimney, get the flue cleaned on an annual basis. This helps protect your property from the risk of fire.
- Pest Control: Everything from small insects to larger pests can threaten your home. It’s best to get quarterly pest control inspections to ensure you stop emerging problems before they spiral out of control.
This is just a partial list of key maintenance areas at your rental property. Start with what you see listed above, but remember that your home needs regular maintenance in many different areas.
Discover Our Property Maintenance Services for Landlords
You have a lot to think about as a real estate investor, which is why it’s so easy to forget about preventative maintenance. At HUNTAHOME, we are the leading provider of property management in Fort Worth and Dallas — including property maintenance services for landlords.
We use experience, knowledge and a commitment to our clients to create and follow effective maintenance schedules. When you need DFW property management that saves you time and money and that frees you up to focus on more important things, choose HUNTAHOME for property maintenance services for landlords — as well as all your other management needs.
Contact us today to learn more about our property maintenance services for landlords.