School supplies are lining the shelves of your local stores, and those long summer nights are beginning to feel just a little colder. This change of seasons marks the need for fall maintenance at your rental property.
With the autumn season just around the corner, now is a great time to address all your property’s needs before the cold weather makes it difficult. Performing routine maintenance will ensure that your property is protected from seasonal elements like rain, snow, sleet, and freezing weather, so take a moment to visit those maintenance issues that took a back burner during the busy summer months.
By being proactive with your annual and seasonal inspections and a little preventative maintenance, you can help keep your rental property in tip-top condition and can make expensive items like your roof or furnace last much longer, which means a more profitable property long-term.
This fall, be sure to cover everything on this fall property maintenance infographic to ensure your property is prepped for the coming season.
Tenant Check-In:
Seasonal or fall maintenance is a great mile marker for inspecting the unit for issues and checking in with your tenants to see if there are any issues that need addressing.
Indoor Maintenance:
Check doors and windows weather stripping, sweep chimney, and animal-proof your chimneys to prevent against nesting critters.
Outdoor Maintenance:
Remove tripping hazards. Tend to stairwells, walkways, and patios to ensure that handrails can support a person who may slip. Trim trees to prevent debris in pathways and on roofs. Reset irrigation systems as needed, and winterize sprinkler and irrigation systems.
Exterior Property:
Clean all gutters, animal-proof attics, and basements. Cold weather brings small animals indoors. Caulk small holes & cover large holes with hardware cloth. Harmed insulation from critters or overflowing gutters can create roof damage long-term.
Hire A Professional:
Have a professional inspect big-ticket items like your HVAC system and your roof. These should be checked yearly to ensure that minor damage is dealt with proactively.
Although it might seem like a lot to attend to this season, most fall maintenance can be done quickly and without spending much money. Most importantly, remember that maintaining a good relationship with your tenants is key as colder months approach. Establishing open communication with your tenants will significantly increase the likelihood that issues will be reported sooner, and in the cold temperatures especially, a prompt repair can prevent significant–and costly–damage down the road.
This post was originally published in September 2022 and has since been updated.
Another thing I highly recommend doing is protecting pipes against devastating pipe bursts and leaks.
Yes! As the season’s temp drops, this is key to preventing a huge (and expensive headache). We have some additional information on that topic here: Steps to Take for a Burst or Frozen Pipe