7 Maintenance Tips for Your Property

Owning a property requires maintenance to keep it in good working condition. If you are like most property owners, you may put off routine maintenance for quite some time or even find yourself frequently repairing parts of your property.
 
According to NerdWallet:
“Just 55% of Americans would handle a repair right away, according to the report, and 9% of millennials would wait until the problem started causing damage. What begins as a minor issue can turn into a very expensive disaster if you put it off. A leaky pipe under the sink could eventually lead to more extensive damage, for example, increasing the cost of the issue exponentially.”
 
There are several parts of your property to maintain, and most of them are general upkeep. With routine maintenance, you can help to avoid complex or financially disastrous expenses down the road.

7 Property Maintenance Tips

Most new property owners may not even be aware of the types of maintenance their property requires, but it is an integral part of retaining its value and minimizing or eliminating costly repairs.
 
Sometimes, it can be helpful to set up reminders for regular maintenance tasks, which may include changing your air conditioning filters, checking your smoke detectors, or just simply walking around your property to see if there are any signs of wood rot or leaks around the exterior and roof. The following are our top seven property maintenance tips

#1: Trim the trees

Owning a property in Florida, you likely understand how important it is to trim your tree branches, especially before hurricane season. While it may not be one of the more glamorous tasks on your maintenance list, this simple task can help prevent pest or rodent infestations in addition to hurricane debris damage.  It will also prevent branches from leaning on the wires to your property which could be hazardous.

#2: Keep your HVAC systems clean

Another important item is keeping up with your HVAC system. You should clean your HVAC system twice a year, routinely have the lines cleared and replace the filter every 1-2 months.
 
If you do not have kitchen or bathroom fans, you may want to consider installing them. This can help reduce the amount of moisture buildup in your property, which helps reduce the risk of mold growth. Try to remove and clean these exhaust fans annually so that the hardware runs smoothly to keep your property free of moisture the best you can.

#3: Check on your plumbing and drains

A very important item to include on your maintenance checklist is to check your plumbing and drainage systems. Damage to your plumbing can result from many things, such as roots and deposit build-up, often creating problems at very inconvenient times.  Make sure to do routine leak checks under your kitchen sink cabinet as well as bathroom vanity cabinets.
 
If you need help properly maintaining your plumbing and drainage system, you may want to hire a reputable plumbing company that can create a maintenance plan for your systems. Also, if your drains are running slowly, make sure to address the issue before they become completely clogged. 

#4: Check your garbage disposal

Most kitchen sinks have a garbage disposal and they can begin emitting a foul odor.  Once a week, clean out your disposal, either with pre-made solutions or a homemade combination of citrus salt and baking soda, which can do wonders when it comes to eliminating odor and unclogging your disposal.  It is also important to clean the underside of the rubber as well as the upper rim inside of your disposal to remove all food debris which also causes a foul odor.

#5: Vacuum your refrigerator coils

Most people rid their fridge of expired food from time to time, but they often overlook the importance of cleaning the refrigerator coils. By routinely vacuuming these coils on a yearly basis, you help keep your refrigerator running smoothly. These coils are generally at the bottom of the fridge, and you would simply remove the cover and vacuum out any dust and debris.  If you don't know where your coils are located, you should refer to your refrigerator manual.

#6: Prevent mold build-up in your washing machine

Even the machines that are used to clean your clothes need cleaning themselves and can start to smell foul. This is often a result of mold or mildew build-up from loading and unloading your laundry and is very common for front load machines. Regularly wipe down the rubber seal every few months. To properly clean your washer and remove this type of buildup, you should refer to your washing machine’s manual.

#7: Check Your Window Seals

Every part of your property can experience wear and tear, including your window seals. Check the seals around your windows and doors every spring. By ensuring that every part of your home is properly sealed, you can help reduce the workload of your HVAC systems and improve its longevity.  This will also help to prevent damage to your property by weather driven rain from entering through poorly maintained windows or doors.

Properly Maintaining and Documenting Your Property

Maintaining your property is something you should not ignore if you want your property to maintain its value and keep repair costs relatively low. If you aren't maintaining your property, you could be putting your life and your property’s structural integrity at risk of extensive damages.
 
Creating a maintenance checklist is a proactive way to ensure your property continues to function efficiently. If you are not sure which parts of your property require maintenance, you may want to hire a professional who can complete a full inspection and uncover any potential issues that may arise.
 
Whether you need to conduct a thorough inspection before you purchase a property, create a checklist of areas of improvement, or document the condition of your property before or after a loss, we can help. Contact us today to learn how.