Property Manager Granada Hills

Property Management Maintenance Tips To Save Money

Written by Whitney Bennett

If you’re a property manager you know how important it is to provide continual maintenance for your property. Your tenants rely on you to provide upkeep to the home. Providing maintenance (both repairs and preventative measures) can cost you money, but in the long run it costs less than having a vacancy. Plus, thanks to the best home warranty company, you can save even more money by doing these five maintenance tips!

TEST SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS MONTHLY
Most landlords tell their tenants to check their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors once a month. However, you should take this tip to the next level and check each detector personally. Set up a time to collect rent and check the detectors each month, as well as touch base with tenants. By coming onto the property you can also ensure that tenants will keep the place cleaner and in better shape because they know you will be there. You can also inspect for leaks and pests while you’re in the home, both problems that can cost a good chunk of change if left without repairs or maintenance.

Change Filters Monthly

If your property has a forced air system, make sure to change the air filters each month. A forced air system is a furnace or air conditioner that takes outside air and heats or cools it and then blows it throughout the home to warm or cool the property. This kind of heating and cooling system requires a filter to trap unwanted dust and dirt particles. The forced-air system will blow air through the filter before blowing the air through the home. When in regular use (like winter and summer months) you can save money by changing the air filter each month. A dirty air filter makes the system blow the air harder, which uses more energy and may make your forced air system fail faster.

SET LIMITS ON HEATING AND COOLING
Air conditioning and heating can cost you a pretty penny during a chilly or hot season. Tenants generally pay for their utilities, but you can save them money along with extreme wear and tear on the HVAC system by setting limits on their heating and cooling. With smart thermostats, like the Nest, you can set limits on how cool or warm the home can get. With some smart thermostats you can operate the thermostat through your phone and turn the temperature up or down by even one degree to save money. Not only will this save money on utility bills, you will save money on repairs and replacements because your air conditioner and furnace won’t be working as hard.

FLUSH YOUR WATER HEATER
A water heater is an important part of your home. As a property manager, if your tenants don’t have hot water, you’re probably going to get quite a few angry calls asking what’s going on with their showers. That’s why it’s important to do preventative maintenance to your water heater. Flushing your water heater will make the heater last longer, and make the heater run more efficiently, saving you money. Flushing your water heater involves taking all of the water out of the tank (and all of the sediment, too!) and then refilling it. This maintenance will get rid of dirt and hard water deposits that may have settled at the bottom of your tank, letting the heating elements heat the water easier and keeping the tank clean.

GET HOME WARRANTY COVERAGE
Your home’s systems and appliances will wear down and fail eventually ““ it’s just a fact of property ownership. Even with diligent upkeep, systems and appliances get old and break down. That’s why paying for home warranty coverage can save you thousands of dollars. Home warranty insurance is a lot like an appliance warranty and home repair insurance all wrapped up into one. If your systems and appliances fail from normal wear and tear, you call the best home warranty company, pay a small service call fee, and the company will repair or replace the failed system or appliance as long as it is covered in the contract. For property managers, home warranty coverage can save thousands of dollars a year on repairs and replacements. 

From: https://www.landmarkhw.com/

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