Back HomeHow to maintain your rental property
One of the ways to ensure your rental property in Texas becomes a secure and consistent source of income is to keep it in pristine condition, and that can only happen with regular maintenance. Now, maintaining a rental property is much like maintaining your own home, but with a few differences.
Here are the steps to keep your rental in tiptop shape and attractive to quality tenants.
- Inspect the property for damages inside and out
- Outside walls – Whatever material your home exterior is made of, whether paint, cladding, or shingles, make sure it’s always looking like new. Regular power washing will do the trick to remove any dirt and grime that may accumulate. If you discover damaged cladding or shingle during inspection, replace these immediately.
- Roof – Every six months, check your roof system to see any problems that Mother Nature may have wrought, such as missing shingles, rusted flashing, clogged gutters, mold growth, and the like. If there are any tree branches hanging over the roof, have these cut by a local tree service.
- Windows – Working windows are effective at keeping interior temperatures comfy, so check to see that all your windows are sealed properly. Seal any gaps with caulk or silicone to prevent moisture from seeping into the house structure.
- Yard – A well-maintained yard helps improve curbside appeal, so trim your trees, mow your grass, tend your flowerbeds, wash your driveway, etc. Do what you can to ensure your property looks attractive as can be from the outside.
- Dust – Dust has a way of accumulating fast in an unlived home. Clean and vacuum the place at least once a month, and don’t forget to include the areas that are not immediately visible, such as the back of cabinets, top shelves, and under the beds. You certainly don’t want your tenants to discover dirt in these hidden places, because it won’t reflect well on you as a rental property owner.
- Fixtures – Tighten any loose knobs, faucets, handles, hinges etc. Repair or replace any fixture that isn’t working. If your rental property comes with appliances, electronics and other devices, make sure these are in good working condition, especially before a tenant moves in. Pay special attention to your in-house safety items such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
- Bathroom and kitchen – As the two dirtiest rooms in the house, you need to make sure your bathroom and kitchen are always spick and span. Prevent tiles and backsplashes from becoming yellow and dingy with a good bleach wash at least once a month. Disinfect sinks and faucet handles, as well any exposed pipes. Let the disinfectant seep for up to five minutes, then rinse and wipe dry. Use a stiff brush to remove stubborn dirt.
- Clean your air and water systems
- Exterminate regularly
Home features deteriorate over time, even when there’s no one using them. Make sure to check both the interior and exterior of your home for damage, and don’t put off any repairs or replacements. Some of the more common home maintenance issues to perform when you own a rental home include:
Exterior
Interior
It is important to perform these inspection and maintenance steps with some regularity when you don’t have tenants around. You can schedule them weekly, monthly, bi-annually, and annually, depending on the need.
Have your HVAC system cleaned at least once a year. Do this as well for your water heaters. Replacing these systems is expensive, so don’t ever ignore your cleaning maintenance duties for them. It will also be wise to leave their maintenance to a professional if you’re not comfortable or knowledgeable about doing the tasks yourself.
You need to rid your rental property of pests, even if there are no visible signs of infestation. Prevention is cheaper than repair and renovation after all, so do get the services of an exterminator once or every other month, depending on the pest situation in your neighborhood. You definitely don’t want to lose good tenants over a pest problem that you could have easily prevented.
What about when you have tenants?
The maintenance steps listed above are for when your property is vacant. Once a tenant moves in, you have to respect their privacy and reduce your checks to the bare minimum. Here’s how to ensure your rental property’s condition when you have tenants around.
- Always follow the landlord tenant law
- Make sure the maintenance clause in the lease agreement is clear and defined
- Hire a property manager
As a landlord in Texas, it’s important to understand the state’s landlord-tenant law so you can avoid potential lawsuits from tenants and manage your rental property more effectively. The Texas landlord-tenant law has plenty of stipulations on maintenance, and knowing what these are will benefit you a lot. For instance, landlords are required to respond to maintenance requests from tenants within a seven day period or risk being in violation of the law.
Tenants have their share of maintenance responsibilities, too. It is important that the lease agreement clearly defines the property maintenance roles and responsibilities of each party. You may need to involve a Texas property management professional during this stage to ensure all your legal bases are covered.
Property managers take the stress out of maintaining your property as they are able to perform every bit of upkeep necessary so your house stays in tiptop shape. Not only that, they help keep your costs down because they have in-house staff for all types of household tasks. Some, like Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Caliber Realty, will even handle tenant screening, rental collections, and more. By partnering with a property manager, you can simply focus on reaping the benefits of your real estate investment.
Whether you are in need of property management in College Station or property management in Bryan, TX, the professionals at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Caliber Realty can help you. Get in touch with one of their agents today by calling 979.694.8844, emailing sales(at)bhhscaliber(dotted)com, or sending your inquiries here.
