Every rental property owner wants to know how to reduce what they pay in maintenance and repairs. We have some tips today that can help you keep your costs and expenses down.
The two main service requests that we receive are for plumbing related issues and HVAC service.
Let’s take a look at a couple of things you can do to put yourself in a more profitable situation.
Air Filters and HVAC Maintenance
On the HVAC service calls we receive, the main thing that we always want to check is the air filter.
We highly recommend that your lease agreement states clearly that the tenant is responsible for air filter changes, and that any costs associated with the air filter not being changed will be the tenant’s responsibility.
Suggest to the tenants that they put a date on those filters with a sharpie marker when they’re changed. That will document the preventative maintenance the tenant is managing on the system.
Another thing you can do as a landlord to facilitate this and to ease the potential pain of your tenants is to provide four or five filters that have the appropriate dates on them. Send the tenants an automated email reminder so they know to change the filters. This helps you and it helps them. It also protects your system and extends its lifespan.
At Midwest Property Resources, we actually have a filter program that delivers filters to the tenant’s door every 60 days. Those filters are dated and the tenants know they’re responsible for installing them. We make it super simple for our residents because when the filter shows up they know they have to change it on that day.
Preventative Maintenance for HVAC Systems
Another good way to keep your maintenance costs down is to have your HVAC system serviced and inspected annually. Many owners will even schedule a bi-annual inspection, especially if the climate has dramatic changes. This preventative maintenance tip will help you save money in the long run, and it will also prevent your tenants from losing heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. The system will run efficiently, and also the HVAC technician can let you know if and when it needs to be replaced. That reduces expensive surprises.
Paying Attention to Plumbing
Plumbers love landlords and property managers because there always seems to be a plumbing issue.
Tenants should be responsible for any plumbing problems they cause. All plumbing expenses can add up quickly. It seems toilets are the biggest culprit. They can leak, they can stop flushing, and they can run all the time. We have found that finding a great mid-range toilet that has good water pressure and flushes well cuts out a lot of issues that we have. Sometimes that cost associated with installing a better toilet can negate two service calls. Replace your old toilets with something new that has great reviews and is super-efficient.
Move-In Checklists Are Essential
