Summer Maintenance Checklist for Landlords

salt lake city property managers in Utah

As a landlord you know that two things can really affect how quickly vacancies rent and how long tenants stay. Those two things are curb appeal and your tenants overall happiness. Having a well kept property helps to take care of both of these. This is why it is always best to work with licensed property managers in Utah.

Keeping your rental properties in great shape starts with having a good seasonal maintenance schedule. This allows for inspection and upkeep of all necessary elements. Performing this kind of annual and semi annual maintenance will also save you money. It does this by preventing many unexpected maintenance concerns down the road.

Here is what a sample summer maintenance checklist should look like. (You can modify it to fit your specific rental properties):

Summer Rental Property Checklist

Exterior:

Clean the exterior of the home or building: A dirty building or one covered in graffiti will turn off prospective renters. So, make sure to pressure wash the home exterior every season. Remove any unsightly graffiti as soon as you notice it..
Service air conditioning units: At the beginning of each summer, have the air conditioning inspected and serviced. This will normally involve a thorough cleaning and a change of filters. This will save you a lot of money in emergency HVAC service calls later on.
Trim trees and shrubs: Being lackadaisical about landscaping can leave the backyard looking unsightly. Make sure that you trim trees, shrubs and bushes routinely throughout the summer. If you have trouble finding time for this, hire a landscaper.
Repair screen doors and window screens: Window screens become worn over time and tend to tear leaving an unsightly piece of screen flapping in the wind. Not only is it an eye sore, it leaves your property unprotected from bugs making a home indoors.
Clean decks and patios: Because they get a lot of use in the summertime, it’s a great idea to clean and reseal decks and patios before the season starts.
Inspect the condition of the home: Every year you should closely inspect the exterior of the home or building so that you will catch any problems early and be able to budget for future maintenance needs.

Interior:

Check appliances twice per year: Schedule service for appliances in need. It is far cheaper to have them serviced than it is to buy new ones.
Install air conditioners: If your properties use window air conditioners you should install the units early in summer. If you pay utilities for the rental it is important to remove the air conditioners in the fall and reinstall them each summer so that it is done properly. This will reduce your power bills and will also reduce the risk of damage to your property during tenant installation. Make sure to check for water damage every time you install or remove the window units.
Replace smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries: Make sure this is done seasonally.
Inspect for signs of pests: Termites, bedbugs, cockroaches, mice and other pests can cause significant damage to your property and reputation. You should also make sure to have your properties exterminated seasonally.

Serve Notice

Outside of emergencies, Utah law requires that tenants be given at least 24 hours notice that you intend to enter the premises. If you have good rapport with your tenant, you may even want to verbally let them know a few days ahead of time.

If you are working with property managers in Utah, they will be able to serve the notice for you as well as handle your summer maintenance checklist.

Property Managers in SLC

If you are a landlord and you find yourself not familiar with all of the legalities pertaining to tenants and rental properties, it would be a good idea to hire a company that specializes in property management in Salt Lake City. Not only will they be able to handle your landlord responsibilities, they can advise you on tenant rights in Utah. A property management company can also provide your properties with property managers in Utah who can build relationships with your tenants and encourage them to report any maintenance issues they may have, saving you countless hours and dollars in emergency maintenance.

If you need a great company for property management in Salt Lake, please contact ASPM today!