Many property owners prioritize maintenance to protect their earnings and ensure investment return. One of the main reasons tenants switch to a new rental place is lack of property maintenance, and having tenants moving out often may not be ideal as it disrupts income. Moreover, incurring damage due to poor maintenance may be costly in the long run, and it can also decrease the property's value.   

Aside from proper usage of facilities, taking care of your rental property requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Through regular upkeep, you can prolong its lifespan and functionality, which, in turn, will help you earn more from your investment.   

If you'd like some tips on how you can care for your rental property, here are some suggestions you may find helpful:  

1. 1. Have A Regular Cleaning Schedule  

To keep your property in top shape, you'll need to have a regular house cleaning schedule that you can follow on your own or hire professional services for. The cleaning schedule depends on the size of your property and the number of tenants that live in it. Usually, areas with high foot traffic need more frequent cleaning. Also, you may need to prioritize common areas such as living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms as they're used often and more prone to damage.   

Aside from this, you'll also need to involve your tenants when it comes to waste disposal. The tenants' responsibilities should be clear, and it's ideal to have everyone's cooperation in keeping the property clean and orderly.   

1. 2. Hire A Property Manager  

If you're unable to oversee the cleaning and maintenance routine in your property, you can consider hiring a manager to do it for you. It may be beneficial if you have multiple properties on a lease, as it may be time-consuming to manage everything all at once. Delegating this responsibility will free up your time for other tasks. Also, the property manager can help you with other essentials such as documentation, inspections, collecting payments, etc.   

1. 3. Perform Routine Inspections  

Commonly, routine inspections are conducted every three to six months to check the property's condition. It allows landlords or property managers to identify maintenance issues within their responsibility while giving the renters a chance to fix damages if there are any. A routine inspection is an effective way for both the tenant and the owner to care for the property and mitigate damage, avoiding steep repair costs in effect.   

Some parts of a rental property are prone to damage due to constant use and exposure. Here are some of them:  

• Walls, windows, and floors  
• Plumbing  
• Electric supply  
• Appliances  

For a routine inspection to be successful, it's essential to let the tenant know of the schedule beforehand and encourage them to be there while you conduct it. Also, avoid getting in contact or taking photos of personal items to respect the tenants' privacy. Lastly, keep the conversation neutral and remain cordial when discussing essential details such as repairs. This way, it will be easier for you to get the tenants' cooperation and care for your property for the duration of their lease.   

1. 4. Protect Your Property Against Infestation  

Animal and insect infestations are commonplace in many households, and they're more likely to happen in some homes than others, depending on the state of the property. In particular, pests are more attracted to moist, humid, cluttered, and poorly-maintained areas. Given this, it's essential to keep your property clean and orderly to protect it against infestations.  

Hiring pest control services are an essential part of property care and maintenance for the same reasons. Experts advise property owners to have pest control at least every two to three months to protect the house from rodents, roaches, spiders, and the like. You can also consider termite detection and prevention, especially if your property has several wood structures that need safeguarding.   

1. 5. Put Aside A Maintenance Budget  

Professional cleaning services and repairs may be costly, and it can be unfavorable to shoulder these expenses without ample preparation. In this sense, you'll need to prepare a contingency fund to help you cover these costs in case of emergencies. This way, you'll be able to restore your property to an optimal condition as soon as possible, minimizing the inconvenience it can cause to tenants and preventing the damage from worsening as well.   

Conclusion  

Keeping your rental property in prime condition will help maintain its value while attracting more business. It will then help lower your vacancy rate, and tenants will be more likely to extend their rental. However, you don't have to do all the maintenance work yourself. If you lack time for your property's upkeep, you can hire professionals or service providers to do it for you. It's also a good investment that will protect your property from damage and deterioration in the long run.