Winter Investment Property Checklist
If you own a rental property or a few, it’s important to keep them in good condition. That means doing some specific maintenance when winter rolls around in order to keep your investments in tip-top shape. Here are a few maintenance projects to make sure your property is winter-ready.
Owning rental property comes with obligations.
Easy Maintenance options to Keep Everyone Happy
If you own one rental property or many, its important to keep them in good condition. That means doing some specific maintenance when winter rolls around in order to keep your investments in tip-top shape.
Here is a list of a few things you can do to safeguard your properties for the cooler months:
- Clean the Gutters
- Treat Mould
- Upgrade insulation & windows
GUTTERS
There are many reasons why clearing out your rental properties gutters is important as winter creeps in – especially with an increase in raining & windy weather.
- Clear out any build up: if there’s a build up of leaves, sticks or other debris in gutters, this can lead to blocked gutters and downpipes. This can cause all types of property damage such as:
- Leaks
- Sagging gutters
- Rising damp & mildew
- Water damage
- Mould
- Damage to property foundations (in severe cases)
2. Ask a professional: Have a chat with your property manager about the options open to you.
Cleaning a gutter yourself can be dangerous, so if you are not confident up a ladder your property manager would be happy to organise professional gutter cleaner.
MOULD
- VENTILATE & PREVENT: If your property is poorly ventilated, this is only going to lead to mould issues. Tenants do not open windows as much during the cooler months (so condensation especially after showers or dryers running indoors) could become a moisture issue. In the long term, you’ll want to focus on strategies that avoid it getting there in the first place.
- EASY FIX: make sure windows and doors can be opened easily.
- PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT: Give your tenants the appropriate notice and give the property a mould-killing go-over if there’s a build-up of the nasty stuff.
- ACTION: make sure tenants know what to look for and how they can help prevent mould.
- EXHAUST FAN: Consider purchasining an exhaust fan if some areas have a tendancy to become mouldy very quickly.
INSULATION & WINDOWS
While insulating or replacing windows for your rental property is a cost for you, it could lead to higher rental return as your tentant won’t be forking out as much on electricity bills during the winter months.
- INSULATION: Some 35% of heat in a home escapes via the ceiling and about 25% through the walls, so make sure your property is properly insulated. This can not only save on utility & maintenance bills, but also helps prevent damp air from entering the property.
- EASY FIX: If you can’t invest on replacing or upgrading insulation, then make sure you minimise drafts by adding or replacing worn weeather stripping around doors and windows.
- REPLACE WINDOWS: About 40% of heat energy eescapes via the windows, so try to upgrade to double glazed windows.
- SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: If you get the opportunity to insulate the property thoroughly, this could pay off in the long run. How you do this will depend on the kind of dwelling you’ve invested in, but have a chat with your property manager if you’re not sure of the right approach.
