Assembling a list of essential maintenance tips is a good idea because as most landlords know, a well-maintained home attracts high-quality residents, brings in higher rents, contributes to tenant retention, and leads to a more profitable investment experience. If you are renting out a Gardena, CA property, you need to be aware of the best practices when it comes to maintaining it.
The very basic legal requirements are simple: you need to provide a home that’s safe and habitable. But, you want to go further than that. You want to protect the condition of your property and you also want to ensure your tenants are satisfied and happy in their home. Happy tenants are more likely to pay rent on time, help you care for that home, and follow the lease agreements.
To preserve the condition of your rental home and continue earning money on it, you’ll want to pay attention to preventative and routine maintenance in order to avoid expensive emergencies. You’ll also want to be selective when it comes to the vendors and contractors you put on your list of preferred service professionals. Finally, you’ll want to invest in upgrades and updates when necessary.
It’s also important that you educate and work with your tenants. Those residents play a huge role in helping you maintain your property.
We’re talking a bit more about those tips and suggestions on how to handle your maintenance responsibilities in order to keep up with property care and tenant satisfaction. Here’s what we can tell you as professional Gardena property managers.
Avoid Emergencies with Preventative Maintenance
Our most important tip is this: invest in and prioritize preventative maintenance. This is the best way to avoid large and unexpected repair costs.
With a good preventative maintenance plan in place, you will enjoy the peace of mind that your investment property is in good condition and your tenants are enjoying a safe and pleasant rental experience. Even better…preventative maintenance can be a money saver.
- Service HVAC Systems
The weather is rather pleasant in Gardena, but your tenants will appreciate and expect a functioning heating and cooling system. Avoid expensive repair calls on the coldest winter days or the hottest August afternoons by ensuring your HVAC system is working well.
The HVAC is one of the most expensive systems in your rental home, so you want to make sure it’s running as efficiently and effectively as it can. Preventative maintenance is going to help keep your repair costs down. Set up a service contract with a local HVAC company that can visit your rental property annually to inspect and clean the HVAC. This will ensure that any problems are detected early. Your tenants will remain comfortable and you’ll increase the life expectancy of your cooling system.
- Pay Attention to Plumbing
Plumbing is another important system in your property – and one that’s potentially expensive to fix. Any time you’re inside the property, check for leaks and drips under sinks and behind toilets and around tubs. Another good preventative step is to flush the water heater in your property every year. This will help you get rid of mineral deposits and avoid rust, which will prolong the life of your water heater.
- Landscaping and Pest Control
Don’t forget the landscaping and the pest control around Gardena rental property. These are preventative maintenance issues, too. Trim back any shrubs or bushes that are so tall they impede your tenant’s view from the windows. This could create a security issue. Pests and insects can do serious damage to you rental home, and they’re unpleasant for tenants to deal with.
Routine inspections, service calls, and upkeep will prevent large and unexpected expenses when it comes to maintaining the outside of your property as well as the inside.
Put Together a Preferred Vendor List
At Real Property Management Choice, we have our contractor’s license and our plumbing license, and we’re pretty great at design elements, too. That’s a huge benefit to working with a company like ours; maintenance expertise.
If you’re managing on your own, without the benefit of a property manager who can coordinate maintenance and repairs and renovations, you’ll need a reliable list of vendors and contractors you can turn to. Make sure you’re working with the best; the care and condition of your investment depends on it.
Some of the repairs you need can be managed by a good handyman, and this will help you keep costs down.
Others types of maintenance and repairs will require licensed and insured vendors. Using vendors and contractors who are licensed and insured is important for a number of different reasons:
- These professionals have been trained and possess the experience that’s required to perform the work you need. You won’t have to worry that they don’t know what they’re doing.
- Professionals will stand by their work and get it done right the first time.
- You’re protected against liability and risk. If an unlicensed worker falls off a ladder and injures themselves, you may be liable for medical bills and even lost wages.
- Your tenants remain satisfied that work is being done properly.
We don’t recommend that you do the work yourself. This can often lead to delays, and that’s going to be frustrating for your tenant. Invest in high quality work from good vendors with whom you already have an established relationship. Or, reach out to your local Gardena property management company for referrals and direction.
Invest in Your Gardena Rental Property
A key element to maintaining your property is upgrading it. It’s important that you’re willing to make improvements and renovations. You want to stay competitive in the rental market, and updates are a great way to do that. Choose the projects that will get your property noticed. Tenants are looking for comfort, convenience, and security. They don’t necessarily need marble floors and granite counters. What they do want are energy-efficient appliances, easy-to-maintain floors, and modern fixtures and features.
Here are some of the things we recommend when it’s time to make some cost-effective renovations that contribute to the increased value of your property and your tenant satisfaction:
- Curb appeal and landscaping. Your residents want to be proud of where they live, and a property that looks great from the street will inspire that pride. Always be willing to invest in routine lawn care if you have outdoor space. Even if it’s a small courtyard, you want it to look clean and inviting.
- Kitchen appliances. Aging appliances are not only an eyesore, they’re likely to break down a lot. Instead of repairing the same refrigerator over and over again, replace it with a newer model. Look for appliances with the Energy Star rating. Tenants are more mindful of environmental sustainability these days, and they definitely want to keep their energy bills low.
- Flooring. Clean carpet is essential, but even better than clean carpet is no carpet at all. Some of the most successful investment properties have hard surface flooring. This is more preferable to tenants because it’s easier to clean and care for. It’s also less toxic to people with allergies or asthma. Those dust particles and pet dander can get caught in the carpet fibers, causing health issues. You can charge more for a home with hard surface flooring, too, whether it’s faux hardwood or laminate or tile.
These are just a few examples of upgrades and updates that will help you maintain your property and attract the best tenants.
Partner with Your Tenants to Make Maintenance a Priority
When your residents request maintenance, it’s important to be responsive. This will help with retaining those tenants and also in protecting the condition of your property. Deferred maintenance is going to be more expensive. It’s going to lead to faster deterioration and wear and tear.
Let your tenants know that you want to hear about all repair needs promptly. Sometimes tenants worry about making unnecessary requests. They don’t want to be blamed for something going wrong. Put those worries to rest when you’re going over the lease agreement with your new tenant. Stress the importance of immediate maintenance reports.
Educate them on how to take care of the property. When they move in, leave them with a guide on how to set the thermostat, where to turn off the water if necessary, and how to operate the appliances. Remind them to change the air filters regularly and remind them of their responsibilities around keeping the property clean. How is trash to be collected? Share all the information that your tenants need, and make it easy for them to ask questions or request clarification.
These are some of the most effective strategies to maintaining your property. Put together a good process for requesting maintenance, follow up with your tenants once repairs are complete, and make sure you understand the condition and the potential needs of your property.
Working with Gardena property managers can help you have a better investment experience. We can handle the maintenance of your property efficiently and cost-effectively. If you would like to hear more, please contact us at Real Property Management Choice.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
