As a landlord, you know that your role isn’t limited to simply funding the investment property. There is much maintenance, management, research, and knowledge behind your role. With the start of spring upon us, it’s also a great time to take the opportunity to do some spring cleaning at your property. Here are some of our best tips for getting your property in shape for the warmer weather.
Inspections
If you have a tenant living in the property, you can cover a few extra inspection points for spring. Now is a good time to check gutters for leaves and clogging, check driveways for cracks, inspect for damage to property such as loose roof tiles, inspect wooden areas of the home for rotting, sort out any fencing issues and book in window washing. Make sure you check and test that any smoke detectors are working and it is recommended to change the battery yearly.
Think about the state of the outdoor garden and whether it needs professional upkeep for the coming season such as tree trimming, lawn fertilising and mulching.
If you don’t have a tenant living at the property at the moment, it’s a great time to perform any cleaning and repairs that may be an inconvenience if tenants were living in the property, such as painting.
Pest control
As the warmer weather approaches so do common pests such as cockroaches, rodents, spiders, ants, and termites. Ensure you perform pest control inspections regularly on your property. Drier weather is perfect for pest control services as the products applied will be less likely to wash away.
Security
Whether you have a tenant in the property or not, it’s important to check on the security of the building. Theft and property damage from break-ins can impact how long your tenant decides to stay at your property, as well as cost you financially. Check security system technology is up to date, ensure you have strong locks on doors and windows and inspect for any security risks. If you are changing tenants, it can be wise to change locks after the last tenants have left or if all keys have not been returned.
Common areas
If your property is an apartment block, you’ll need to take a look at the common areas:
- Perform carpet cleaning for areas inside such as meeting rooms, lobby’s and gym
- Repainting this spring could involve refreshing lines in the carpark, repainting walls, and lines marking emergency exits
- Clean the carpark area. Organise a sweep and wash down with high-pressure water to remove oil, dirt, and grime from the driveway and carpark space
- Perform any maintenance and repairs such as lift servicing, replacement lightbulbs and appliance maintenance in the common room
- Don’t forget about cleaning out rubbish chutes in buildings, these can easily get clogged through incorrect use by tenants. And whilst this is being taken care of, also consider giving the bins and bin area a professional clean for the next season
Spring cleaning is a great idea for landlords, and no doubt tenants will be greatly appreciative of the extra attention to the care and security of the property. Landlord Insurance gives you peace of mind protecting your asset. There are a range of options to cover your investment property; the building itself as well as the contents such as dishwashers, ovens, carpets and curtains. For information about Landlords Insurance contact CGU today.
