Fall Maintenance Tips For Your Property

By Danielle Wirsansky on September 4, 2021

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

As summer ends, a new semester begins. The end of summer and the beginning of the fall is often one of the busiest times for a landlord or property manager in a college town. This is because it is the time that students, which make up the bulk of renters in these areas, are moving out, moving in, and everything in between.

Once all your tenants, new and old, are settled in, that is when the fall truly begins. Once that bustle is over does not mean that you should relax, however. Now it becomes time to step up your A-game—read on for some fall maintenance tips for your property!

Photo by Life Of Pix from Pexels

Fall Maintenance Safety Inspection

One of the first things you can do is a fall maintenance inspection. Theoretically, your properties should have been checked for any major issues before residents began moving in. However, there are properties you manage where tenants may have renewed their lease and so no earlier inspection was made. Or perhaps there was a rush or other emergency that barred you or your team from inspecting a property thoroughly before a new tenant moved in.

It is also true that inspections made between tenants, done quickly and under deadline, are usually focused more on making sure core items work as they need to, cleanliness, and cosmetic damages. Most property managers and their teams do not have time to do an extremely thorough maintenance inspection, dedicated mostly to safety during the end of summer/beginning of fall rush.

So once that rush ends, that is the perfect time to go and do a fall maintenance safety inspection. You can be sure that everything is up to par and help yourself avoid any unpleasant surprises deeper in the winter when it is both colder and more unpleasant outside. This will also help you avoid emergencies that could cost you a lot of money and put you and/or your tenants in an awkward position.

Most tenants will be pleased with a fall maintenance safety inspection as it shows that you, as the property manager, care about the property and tenants and that you actively work to keep things safe and up to date.

Update Weatherstripping and Insulation

This can either be added to your fall maintenance safety inspection, or you can make a separate inspection to make sure nothing falls between the cracks, but the fall is a good time to check on and update your property’s weatherstripping and insulation. This time of year is best because much of the work to update weather stripping and insulation must be done by workers outside. Allowing them to complete this work in the fall makes it easier for them to complete the task, as they do not have to endure the harsh heat of the summer nor the coldness of winter.

As the property manager, you will also want to update the weatherstripping and insulation before winter comes because by then it is already too late. If there is a problem with either the weatherstripping or the insulation, it will be quite evident in winter and already causing problems. The tenants might be cold and uncomfortable, frustrated at the situation.

If you are responsible for paying for the property’s utilities rather than the tenants, then you will want to be on top of this so that you do not get exorbitant bills for higher heating because the property was so chilly. If your tenants are on the hook for your carelessness and they have to shoulder the higher utility and electric bill, you can be sure they will note it and move somewhere different where the property manager is more attentive. Avoid this and just be sure to update your weatherstripping and insulation!

Trim Branches in Danger Spots

A great task to complete during the fall is to check out trees around your property and make sure their branches are in good condition. If they are, then everything is safe and good to go. If they are not, you can have them trimmed before they cause any damage.

The fall is a good time to complete this task because most trees will be losing their leaves. When the branches are barer, it is easier to see how at risk of falling they are. This will make your tenants and your property safe and you know you have done your due diligence to avoid any accidents from rogue falling tree limbs.

Photo by La Miko from Pexels

A property manager’s job is never done, but especially not in the fall. Be at the top of your game as a property manager. Following the strategies listed above will certainly help keep you on track and your tenants happy!

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