When you are managing your rental property or thinking about getting into property management in Anchorage, there are a lot of different pieces to keep track of. Maintenance can be the one thing that consumes the most time and money. Here are a few easy tips that when followed can save you big in the long run.
Maintenance Mistake 1: Not Unclogging Gutters
You don’t want your renters climbing up to unclog the gutters, so it is a good idea to put it on your calendar to do it yourself or hire a professional to have it done. Not maintaining the gutters on your property puts the roof and the foundation at risk. Gutters move water away from both the foundation and the roof, and if they are filled with debris, they can lead to leaks, ice build-up, and other expensive roof issues later. Similarly with foundations, if water isn’t moved away from them, you could be looking at serious problems in the spring when all that Alaska snow melts and needs somewhere to go.
Maintenance Mistake 2: Ignoring Foggy Windows
Encourage your renters to notify you as soon as they see a foggy window, or if you see one, you need to check it right away. Foggy windows usually mean that the window’s seal is broken. In Anchorage’s winters, that broken seal will lead to higher heating bills, which you don’t want if the utilities are included in the monthly rent!
Maintenance Mistake 3: Ignoring Leaks
Make sure you highly, highly encourage your tenants to let you know as soon as they notice even the smallest leak. If left unchecked, what looks like a “harmless” leak now can lead to severe water damage over time. Depending on how long the leak has been happening and where it is, you could end up looking at having to replace or repair laminate flooring, cabinets, carpet, roofing, drywall, and insulation. Unresolved leaks can also create the perfect habitat for mold and mildew, which can be deadly.
Maintenance Mistake 4: Procrastination
When you notice a problem or one of your renters reports a problem, it is important to get on it right away. Especially if it is something that has been reported to you, there is a high likelihood that your tenant may have taken a bit of time before they got around to telling you about the issue. So in the case of the water leak, for example, it might have been leaking for days or weeks before you even find out about it. This makes it all the more vital for you to be proactive and resolve the problem as quickly as you can.
Maintenance Mistake 5: Not Getting into a Routine
There are many items on your maintenance list that need to be done routinely even if no complaint or issue has been reported. One of them is the gutters, which we already discussed. A few other regular maintenance items usually include duct cleaning, filter replacements, furnace and boiler servicing, and winterizing your properties.
Performing routine maintenance on your Anchorage properties and attending to issues quickly can help ensure you won’t end up getting hit with some big surprises later on down the road.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
