What Should You Do to Maintain Your Rental Property?

When it comes to rental property, not all landlords are as diligent as they should be. As a result, their properties end up in disrepair and they struggle to maintain good tenants. If you own rental property, it is important that you take the right steps to ensure your property remains in good condition. To help you accomplish this, here are two maintenance steps to keep in mind.  

Protect the Exterior

It is easy for the exterior of a home to fall into disrepair. Environmental elements can cause wear and tear over time. To prevent this, you need to take action now to protect your rental property.  

For instance, you should inspect the exterior for signs of damage and make repairs as needed. You also should have the exterior painted periodically. The paint is more than a decorative touch. It can help protect the wood from deterioration and extend its lifespan.  

In addition to these measures, you need to ensure the gutters are properly attached and unclogged. As part of keeping water from pooling up at the foundation of your property, you also need to check the slope of the dirt from it. If the dirt or other surface is allowing the water to stand at the foundation, you need to have the dirt refilled so that there is no slope.  

Inspect the HVAC System

If the HVAC system is not properly cared for, you could wind up with a repair bill that is hundreds of dollars. If the system has to be replaced, it could take even more funds to do so. In many instances, the need for a repair or replacement were avoidable through preventative maintenance.  

Ideally, you should have your system inspected every year. A certified contractor can inspect the system and identify any issues that need to be repaired before they worsen.  

You also need to ensure the filters are changed monthly. Although it might be tempting to leave this task to the tenants, you need to take care of it. If the HVAC is operated with clogged filters, your tenants will not only face higher energy costs, but your system might break down. The more your system has to operate, the more wear and tear it experiences.  

Keeping up with a rental property can be time consuming and challenging. If you do not have the time to devote to it or simply need help, consider contracting with a property management company.