Home owners may associate spring with spring cleaning but rental property management companies know the season is for maintenance; specifically, the creation and completion of a detailed spring maintenance schedule. With winter ending, tenants who had been putting off a move will start their searches and students will be ending leases; making this the ideal time to get rental properties in top-notch condition.
Track rental leases in property management software
Track lease end dates in a property management software and contact tenants 60 days before the end of a lease to confirm their plans to stay or go. Give written notice at least seven days in advance of any maintenance scheduled for rental properties, whether inside or out. If the maintenance is being performed inside a home, be sure to schedule a time/receive permission to enter from the tenant. If a tenant is leaving, use property management software to create customized property inspection templates and reports. These reports can provide the start of your list of spring maintenance projects.
Spring maintenance tips for rental property management
Create a checklist
The first task is to create a to-do list of all the spring maintenance projects and inspections that must be completed. As tasks are checked off of your rental property management springtime checklist you will be monitoring progress and staying on top of the work left to do.
Common items on maintenance check lists:
Exterior:
- Managing and clearing drainage systems.
- Examining the roof for leaks and shingles problems.
- Cleaning up landscaping.
- Checking the security of entryways/exits.
- Inspecting the siding and decking.
- Looking for damage to the concrete driveways and community roads.
Inside property walls:
- Ensuring the HVAC system is functional and clean.
- Checking caulking and/or grout for holes or cracks.
- Checking for moisture and/or mold problems.
- Testing the fire system in its entirety from the alarms to the sprinklers.
Focus on the property’s exterior appearance
Get the exterior of your rental property in tip-top shape at the start of spring and it will pay dividends through the busy rental season as people look for new homes. Exterior sub to-do lists may include:
- Prune the bushes and trees prior to blossoming.
- Power wash siding and driveways.
- If the property has weeds, remove them while they are small.
- Clean up the garden.
- Schedule new projects such as the addition of a fence or walkway.
- Plant some springtime flowers.
- Paint the home, the fence and deck railing as needed.
Call in your contractors to help
A good rental property management company knows that they depend on a team of experienced contractors to take care of their rental properties. Reach out to the contractors you will need to get your maintenance projects scheduled and your to-do list checked off. From landscapers to general contractors, plumbers, roofers, pavers, painters, gutter cleaners and HVAC specialists; these are the experts you need to get your rental property in order, inside and out.
Son-Rise Property Management has been serving the property management needs of Bellingham and Whatcom County since 1996. Contact us today to see how we can help you find a rental property for your family or manage your rental properties.
