Regular maintenance is one of the primary ways to keep your rental property habitable and tenant-friendly. Depending upon the type of property, its age, and the frequency of repair issues, different owners adopt different strategies for maintaining their properties – corrective maintenance, regular maintenance, emergency maintenance, or preventative maintenance.
Based on our experience of over 26 years, we can say that preventative maintenance is the most cost-efficient and time-saving strategy of all of them. No matter what kind of rental home you own, preventing it from potential damage helps you avoid emergency repairs in the long run that may cost twice as much.
So, here is a list of preventative maintenance measures for Merced landlords to help eliminate unnecessary expenses in the future.
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Check for Bubbling Paint on the Walls of Your Rental
Blisters appear on the wall when the uppermost coat of paint does not stick to the primary surface. These paint bubbles can be the signs of excess moisture, plumbing leakages, or excessive humidity. If not addressed in time, these can gradually turn into mold.
Therefore, it is essential to check the walls thoroughly during your routine inspection. Getting rid of the bubbling paint by scraping it off or sanding it down is easier and better than dealing with mold.
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Examine the Roof
Small holes on the roof or damaged shingles can result in significant leakage problems if not repaired in time, constantly keeping the house moist and making it unsuitable for habitation. In addition, living in consistently damp conditions can cause the tenants to develop health issues such as respiratory allergies.
In preventative maintenance, you can seal off the smaller holes with primer and adhesive patches. If the holes expand, the entire rubber roofing will need to be replaced.
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Check if HVAC Systems are Functioning Properly
The Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed to control the temperature in the house for the comfort of the residents. The filters are the life of the HVAC system, but a lot of dust and grime accumulates in them due to everyday use.
It is essential to check the filters every month and change them at least once during their lifetime to increase their efficiency and prevent breakdown costs later.
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Regular Servicing of Plumbing and Appliances
Leakages in pipes and faucets can be disastrous as they can damage the walls, furniture, and appliances and slow down the water supply through the showers or the toilet. Seasonal plumbing maintenance is an effective way of preventing costly repairs in the future. Similarly, regular servicing of appliances increases their life and maintains their efficiency.
Some routine maintenance measures to avoid costly damages to the appliances are:
- cleaning the compressor coil of the refrigerator,
- keeping the washing machine tub clean and dry after every use,
- keeping the outlet pipe clean,
- disposing of the coffee leftovers from the coffee machine after every use,
- cleaning the AC filters regularly and replacing them if required
As the saying goes, a stitch in time does indeed save nine. So, ensure that you conduct regular inspections for your Merced rental property, use past documentation to notice any new damages, and opt for preventative maintenance.
Since property inspections and managing documentation can be time-consuming, you don’t have to do it on your own. Hire a trusted property management company in Merced like River Drive Properties to take care of preventative maintenance and repairs for your house. Our team of experts has several strategies for preventative maintenance that help in the upkeep of your Merced rental property and increase its return on investment (ROI.) For more information, feel free to reach out to us at River Drive Properties.