Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Lee

October 2019

Fall is here! And while that means crisp air and beautiful color change (along with all things pumpkin spice), it is also time to take some important measures to prepare your rental home for the cold months ahead. We’ve compiled the following tips that every homeowner (or their trusted property manager) should follow:

Lawn and landscaping: Although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn. It is also important to trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof of your house. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter.

Clean gutters and downspouts: Once most of the leaves have fallen, gutters and downspouts should be cleaned out. Clogged gutters during rainstorms can cause water to pool and damage your roof or siding.

Exterior repairs: An assessment of the exterior of your property should be done to look for signs of damage to the roof, siding and foundation. If anything is spotted that needs repair, this should be scheduled before winter weather hits.

Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses: Pipes need to be protected from freezing temperatures by shutting off water to exterior faucets before the weather dips below freezing, and hoses should be drained and stored inside. If your water heater is located in an unheated space such as the garage, crawl space or an outdoor closet, it’s a good idea to insulate the pipes.

Schedule a chimney cleaning and heating system maintenance: Making sure your chimney and furnace or boiler are cleaned, maintained and in working order before you need to turn on the heat is an important safety measure. Now is also a good time to change the furnace filter.

Check walkways, railings, stairs and the driveway for winter safety: When the landscape is covered in ice and snow, just walking from the driveway to the front door can be quite a challenge. It’s important to make navigating around your home safer by checking that all stairs are in good shape and have sturdy railings, and that the driveway is in good repair to make for easier shoveling.

Do you find yourself lacking the time needed to properly care for your rental investment property? If so, hiring a great property manager may be in order. At Omni, we take the preservation of your investment property seriously. We have the experience, knowledge base and systems in place to ensure that your investment will thrive in our care. Click HERE to find out more about our top-notch property management services.