One of the most tedious, ongoing tasks, forever on your rental property ownership to-do list is maintenance. From seasonal contractor schedules to inspections and property upkeep, maintenance tasks can be time-consuming and costly. But there are some ideas to help streamline your efforts. Here are a few tips to making your Dublin, CA, rental property maintenance a little easier.
Delegating & Establishing Roles
Some veteran property owners suggest one way to make maintenance easier is to delegate tasks and establish roles. Before your Dublin, CA, tenants move in, for example, discuss what their maintenance responsibilities are right away. You will be responsible for major projects and repairs, of course. But some of the normal, more wear and tear maintenance, you might want your new renters to handle. In addition to delegating some of those tasks, you can also consider hiring a general contractor handyman to handle some of the more labor-intensive projects throughout the year. Leave the specialist maintenance jobs to the professionals, including HVAC technicians, electricians, and roofing contractors. But having a team approach to regular maintenance efforts can ensure your Dublin rental property is in its best condition.
Design and Stick to a Minimum Standard of Your Rental Property’s Condition
Rental property maintenance projects can really be untimely sometimes. And it’s easy, especially when major unforeseen expenses creep up, to put off a landscaping job or to fix a few loose shingles. But those small delays can end up affecting the overall condition of your property in a big way. Documenting and sticking to a minimum standard of “good condition” can help you set boundaries with yourself and with your tenants. Itemizing a checklist with your Dublin, CA renters can be helpful should condition-related disputes arise. But keeping yourself accountable, too, can ensure you don’t put off too many necessary maintenance projects.
Creating & Adhering to a Maintenance Schedule
It’s usually best to get in the habit of creating and adhering to a regular maintenance schedule throughout the year for ongoing projects. An annual or seasonal inspection can help prevent major mechanical failures. Servicing your Dublin rental property’s HVAC units can ensure you catch problems when they’re small. Remember, no part of your investment property is designed to last forever. So, having a routine schedule can help you keep a finger on the pulse of your rental property’s condition.
Standardize Wherever You Can
Many suggest that rental property maintenance is easier if you adopt a standardization policy when it comes to supplies, fixtures, and extras. This step can especially make a world of difference for those who own multiple properties. Keeping with the same brands of appliances or fixtures can allow for bulk buying or negotiation on a price for repairs and replacements. Using the same color and brand of paint can streamline touch-ups between tenants. Look for ways to standardize where you can and save a little time and money in the process.
Recognize When It’s Time for a Professional
Maintenance projects can sometimes become costly if you hire a subpar contractor or try to tackle the repairs yourself. It’s best to recognize when it’s time to call in a professional for the job, for the most efficient and cost-effective solution. For example, you might have confidence in replacing a garbage disposal yourself. But if you forget to turn off the water or make a hook-up mistake, it could result in water spraying throughout the kitchen, causing more damage. Be mindful of the scope of each maintenance project that comes about and reach out to the pros when you need to do so.
One of the most effective ways to make rental property maintenance easier is hiring a property management partner to help. Contact PMI Contra Costa CONTRA COSTA if you need help streamlining your maintenance efforts. We can leverage some of these maintenance best practices but can also handle all of the necessary scheduling, payment, and follow up, making it even easier on you as the Dublin, CA property owner.
