Any property investment will require a certain amount of upkeep and maintenance, and spring and summer are a great time to take care of specific items to make sure that your property is ready for warmer weather, heavy spring showers, and anything else the year has to throw at it. In many cases, you will have to repair some damage caused during the winter, while ensuring that your property is attractive, well kept, and ready to withstand warmer weather.
Reseal Pavement
Over the winter, fine cracks and crevices in sidewalks and parking lots can grow to become a problem as water enters them, freezes, and forces the cracks to widen. You can reseal cracks yourself using a simple kit found at most hardware stores, or you can hire a professional to do the work for you.
Trim Trees & Shrubs
Trees and shrubs on your property may have to be trimmed for the summer. In some cases, you can just do the work yourself to prune shrubs away from paths, cut away dead limbs, and otherwise clean up. If you have to trim large branches, it is important that you hire a professional to help.
Clean Up
Whether raking leaves, power washing the building, or adding a new coat of paint, there are a lot of simple, cost effective ways to clean up property. Because dirt accumulated in heavy rains, it is best to wait until after the worst of the rainy season is over.
Clean Gutters & Downspouts
Cleaning gutters and downspouts is important for allowing water to run off of the building. You can also take the time to review local storm drains to ensure that they are draining.
Take Care of Groundskeeping
If you don’t have a gardener or a maintenance company on hire, you may want to get one. Keeping the lawn healthy means watering it, providing consistent care, mowing, and removing weeds, and that can be a steady job if you have a lot of property. Reviewing any plants on your property will also allow you to decide if you should plant more to spruce up the exterior of the property.
You should:
- Establish or renovate the grass
- Apply weed control where necessary
- Apply fungicides and pesticides as necessary to trees and shrubs
- Prune
Inspect the HVAC System
Inspect the HVAC system and change the filters.
Inspect Plumbing
Pipes can sustain damage over the winter as water freezes and unfreezes, so it is always a good idea to inspect pipes in the spring or early summer to ensure that there is no damage.
Test Smoke/Carbon Dioxide Detectors
Test (or remind your tenants) to test carbon dioxide detectors, and to change the batteries if necessary.
Take Care of Any Insect Problems
Insects come out in late spring and early summer and can be a nuisance to tenants if they can get inside. Inspecting the grounds and calling pest control, and having the property sealed if necessary, can save you a lot of hassle.
Review your Insurance
Take the time to review your insurance policy, check to make sure you can’t get a better deal, and make sure that you’re happy with the disaster coverage offered by your policy.
Spring and summer maintenance will help to ensure that your property stays in good condition and will prevent damage.
If you need help with your property management, maintenance, or tenants, contact SJA Property Management, a Seattle area property management company.