If you can stay ahead of any problems that may arise in your property then you’ll save yourself and your tenants a lot of headaches. It’s generally a good idea to schedule a walk-through and note anything that needs to be taken care of or damage that you see. Check off the items as soon as you see them and address any issues with your tenant so that they have a chance to rectify problems. Every six months it’s also a good idea to check on some things that may not jump out at you during a walk-through.
*Replace the furnace filters and schedule an annual maintenance inspection. It’s handy to keep a note of the proper filter sizes on your phone in your wallet.
*Check out the laundry area. Make sure the washing machine seals are dry and free of mold. If there’s a funky smell use a washing machine cleaner on one or two cycles. Check the dryer’s ducts and clean out any debris. Dryers cause a shocking number of fires every year.
*Test the smoke and CO detectors and make sure they’re properly located. This is a good time to check on your fire extinguishers as well.
*Replace all burnt out light bulbs. If a fluorescent light is flickering, either replace the bulb or check the connection.
*Test and reset all ground fault circuit interrupter receptacles. Also check to make sure that extension cords and power strips are being properly used. Daisy chains of cords aren’t okay.
Some of these items should be checked more often than once a year. If you’re comfortable scheduling yourself months in advance it’s a good idea to set dates for these maintenance checks when you sign the lease.