The challenge of maintaining a rental property is often overwhelming, especially to anyone new to managing and investing in rental properties. It’s best to get your property maintenance tasks on a consistent schedule now so that problems don’t build up and cause more long-term damage in the future. Here are a few tips on how rental property owners can streamline maintenance.

Perform Maintenance Based on Season

RentecDirect emphasizes that each season brings a major property maintenance objective for property owners. In the spring, it’s important to focus on tasks that will assist with managing moisture damage both indoors and outdoors. In the summer, tenants may spend more time outdoors so it’s important to focus on maintenance tasks that fall in this area. In the fall, landlords should begin “animal proofing” the grounds and preparing to winterize the property. Finally, in the winter, rental property owners should focus on weatherizing structures and inspecting and managing water pipes to prevent freezing.

Have a Go-To Maintenance Checklist

For every property owner, there should be a list of tasks for property maintenance that is completed every month, if possible. Here are seven tasks to add to your monthly property maintenance checklist:

• Exterminate for pests monthly even if there are no signs of a problem.

• Check for water damage and leaks, particularly after a major weather event.  Couple that inspection with a detailed review of any mold or mildew damage, which can present dangerous health risks for your tenants.

• Examine all tile and caulk in showers, kitchens, and flooring.

• Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Change the filters inside the units.

• Flush the water heaters in the units.

• Clean the gutters.

Take Stock of Annual Repairs and Replacements

Each year, property owners should evaluate the overall quality of all their units—both inside and outside the home. Rentometer states that by reviewing heating and cooling systems and investigating when property upgrades should happen is the best way to plan for the new year.  At the end of each year, review all the “big ticket” items that should be attended to. (This would include the condition of all major appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, furnaces, air conditioners, etc.)

Budgeting for major upgrades on an annual basis is also an important part of handling the investment and ensuring its appeal and value to new tenants and other potential investors down the road. Get each unit on an upgrade schedule and figure out which appliances will need replacements or repairs. Look at their warranties and budget in the expected replacement and upgrade costs on an annual basis.

Additionally, check the quality of the interior structure of each rental unit. Plumbing and electricity, heating and cooling systems, floors, doors, walls, baseboards, closets, tubs, showers, windows, and ceilings should all be inspected after tenants move out to ensure the safety, utility, durability, and efficiency of the space.

Protect and Enhance Your Investment

In addition to getting your maintenance tasks onto a seasonal, monthly, and annual schedule, Forbes recommends carefully researching and crafting the best maintenance team possible for your property. This includes having contingency and emergency maintenance backup contractors and vendors as well as the primary maintenance staff to take care of all issues that arise. You should also have clear communication with the tenants about timelines for repairs, tenant maintenance rights and responsibilities, and the types of repairs or maintenance that may be charged back to the tenant at what percentages and rates.

Finally, consider investing in a quality home warranty. Even the best, most experienced property owners have unexpected weather disasters, security breaches, bad tenants, and other unexpected calamities. According to House Method, a home warranty can give you peace of mind and, since you are a landlord, the warranty may be tax deductible. Consider all the ways in which you can put a small amount of time and money into your property now to save a lot more time, stress, and money in the long run.