5 Ways to Prepare your Rental Property for Fall

As the weather changes and temperatures cool down, now is the perfect time for landlords and property managers to carry out preventive maintenance on rental properties. Preparing for the upcoming rain helps avoid problematic maintenance during the wet and colder months. This helps to ensure your tenant’s safety, and keeps the property in good condition.

Below we’ve highlighted five tasks to prepare your rental property ready for the upcoming fall.

Inspect Gutters and Downspouts

Fall brings with it cooler winds, debris and fallen leaves which can clog and damage your rain gutters. This can lead to water damage in a number of locations on your rental. Water can cause cracks to form on the exterior stucco, water can leak into the walls or roof causing mold and mildew or in extreme cases it can even damage your foundation.

When inspecting your gutter system you should not only clean out the dead leaves and debris, you should also inspect the gutters and downspouts for cracks or misaligned seams. The corners and seams of your gutter systems are the most common areas where leaks can appear. Any discoloration on the exterior walls can also be a sign of gutter leaks. Regular gutter maintenance protects your investment, and reduces tenant complaints about leaks. 

Drafts around Doors and Windows

While Long Beach’s weather is fairly mild year round, it's important to make sure there aren’t any damaged seals around the doors and windows. As the temperatures fall, drafts around the windows and doors can lead to an increased heating bill. This can cause discomfort to the tenants which should be avoided. Additionally if your rental has central heating, drafts can increase the usage of the system which can increase wear and tear ultimately shortening the lifespan of your central heating system.

Inspect seals, weather stripping, and caulking to ensure there are no gaps or leaks. Worn weatherstripping should be replaced, and damaged caulk should be cleaned off before applying a new seal. These are quick and affordable fixes that can go a long way to the comfort of your tenant. Properly sealing windows and doors can also improve energy efficiency. This  makes the property more attractive to prospecting tenants and reduces energy-related complaints. Ensuring there are no air leaks can potentially reduce heating costs by up to 20%, while putting less strain on the heating system.

HVAC Systems

The end of summer is a great time to inspect your HVAC systems. Although our falls are mild, and many tenants may not use heating during the day, cooler nights make heating important. As previously stated, a well maintained HVAC system can not only reduce energy consumption, it can last much longer than a neglected system.

Be sure to replace the air filters and inspect the ducting, as dust and pollen can accumulate in the duct work during the fall. This can also greatly affect the air quality of your rental. If you feel like your ductwork has been neglected for a long period of time, the accumulation of debris can become a risk for fire and even help to spread the fire through the ductwork.

Prepare Landscaping

The fall is an ideal time to work on the landscaping and curb appeal of your rental. You should consider pruning trees and shrubs to prevent dead or dying branches from falling on the property during the rainy season. Dead branches have been known to fall and damage roofs, windows, fencing and more if left alone.

By trimming the trees and maintaining the landscaping it reduces the risk of property damage as well as potential liability claims. It also keeps the property looking well-maintained which can improve the curb appeal if you’re dealing with a vacancy.

Inspect your Roof

Although you typically don't need to replace your roof every year, it's good practice to inspect it to ensure there’s no damage or leaks. Even though Long Beach generally experiences mild rainfall during the fall, there are some times where we are surprised with storms, therefore it's better to be prepared.

Inspect the roof for missing shingles, cracks or obvious leaks. Addressing these issues before the rain falls can greatly reduce future maintenance to your attic and roof. Water damage can be incredibly varied, ranging from a minor patch to replacing sheets of drywall due to mold and moisture. 

It's better to be ready than to be caught off guard for the change in weather, and a little maintenance can greatly improve your bottom line over time. If you need help preparing your home for the fall season or managing your Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online.