Sudden and unexpected maintenance is always expensive and usually stressful. Typically, you won’t even know that a repair is needed until it’s already escalated. The water heater explodes or the roof starts leaking. Emergency repairs will need to be addressed immediately, no matter where you are and what you’d rather be doing.
Preventative maintenance on your single-family home can help you avoid these major repair costs. It will also contribute to better tenant retention.
With a reliable preventative maintenance checklist, you can reduce expenses as well as the surprise factor. You’ll also enjoy a better tenant relationship.
Here are some of the most preventative maintenance issues that we recommend you put on your annual and seasonal preventative maintenance checklist.
HVAC Systems Need Routine Inspections
The climate in Indianapolis is such that both the heating and the air conditioning will be needed in your rental property. As you likely already know, your furnace and air conditioning systems are some of the most expensive to replace. Prevent surprise repairs and unplanned bills by hiring an HVAC company to perform routine inspections and services. This may cost you $200 or $300 a year, but it will prevent much larger repair bills later. You’ll have fewer calls for help from your tenants, and you won’t have to worry about investing in a new furnace.
Having this relationship with a good HVAC company will also be a benefit when other repairs are needed. You can expect preferred pricing and better responsiveness if something does require a service call.
Avoid any Risk of Water Intrusion
Another checklist item for your preventative maintenance plans includes plumbing and outdoor irrigation. You have to be vigilant about checking for leaks.
Water is more problematic for your Indianapolis rental property than anything else. Maybe that leak under the sink seems minor, but if it’s ignored, that will turn into a plumbing disaster. If it’s ignored and not addressed, you’ll eventually have to clean up mold and rot as well and probably replace some floors and fixtures.
Check under sinks, behind toilets, and around tubs whenever you have the chance. Preventative maintenance checklists will typically include checking and cleaning gutters and inspecting the roof to make sure there isn’t an abundance of leaves, branches, and other debris that could invite water and pests into your property. Make sure sprinklers and irrigation systems are functioning and not rusting or deteriorating.
It may seem like a hassle to drain your hot water heater every year, but it will likely save you from a service call. Like your furnace and air conditioning condenser, your water heater is a major appliance that needs regular servicing. Water heaters can become clogged with sediment, making them less efficient and more likely to leak.
Indianapolis Tenants and Preventative Maintenance
Tenants need to understand their own responsibilities when it comes to preventative maintenance. Create a separate checklist for them, and include it in the lease agreement. This will include items such as:
Changing the air filters monthly or every three months.
Testing and changing the batteries in smoke detectors when necessary.
Reporting any maintenance needs right away.
Keeping the home clean and free of pests and insects.
Preventative maintenance can be more easily addressed when you’re working with an Indianapolis property management company. If you’d like to hear about what we do to protect your property and keep your maintenance costs down, please contact us at Red Door Property Management.
