Property repairs are one of an investment property owner's most important duties under Texas law. They're also one of the most expensive parts of home ownership.
Fortunately, you can ensure your property stays in good condition so you don't end up with costly and urgent repairs. By staying up-to-date with preventive and routine maintenance, you limit the chances of things going wrong all at once or in the dead of night.
Read on for tips about streamlining maintenance coordination to avoid unpleasant surprises.
1. Set Up a Maintenance Calendar
Creating a plan for routine maintenance tasks helps you budget more effectively by spreading maintenance costs throughout the year. It also reduces the inconvenience for your tenants.
Your calendar should include seasonal as well as preventive tasks, like:
- Gutter cleaning
- Lawn care
- Replacing HVAC filters
- Roof inspections
Compiling a list of tasks in advance reduces the likelihood of overlooking important tasks that can lead to serious malfunctions and costly repairs.
2. Transparency and Communication
Share your maintenance calendar with your tenants and contractors. This helps promote transparency and allows them to plan around disruptions.
Remember, you must give your tenants at least 24 hours' notice if you plan to enter your property for repairs or routine inspections.
Make an effort to create good relationships with service providers and contractors. They can offer more efficient service when they know what you expect beforehand.
3. Schedule Regular Property Inspections
Scheduled property inspections are vital for detecting maintenance issues quickly. They're also a good time to carry out small maintenance tasks, like changing the filters on your HVAC.
Use a checklist during your inspection so that you don't miss anything, and be sure to check the property inside and out. Property inspections are a good time to build good relationships with your tenants.
Good landlord-tenant relations are important to encourage lease renewals, especially during times of increasing vacancy rates.
4. Prioritize Urgent Issues
Despite your best efforts, you're bound to encounter unexpected repairs in your rental unit. Sticking to your routine maintenance coordination plan means you can more easily accommodate these.
When you need to spend money on an urgent matter, you can delay something of lesser importance if it has been well-maintained all along. For instance, if you're planning a roof inspection and your tenant's HVAC needs repairs, you can rearrange your calendar to accommodate the inspection at a later date.
5. Implement Property Management Technology
An online tenant portal or app is one of the most effective ways to streamline communications with tenants and contractors. Your tenants can submit maintenance requests promptly, and you can easily keep track of vendor requests and payments.
Property management software also helps you keep track of your maintenance coordination plan for effortless scheduling and record-keeping.
Embrace Professional Maintenance Coordination
The best way to streamline all the above facets of property maintenance is to hire a property manager.
The team at 1st Choice Property Management is experienced in all facets of managing investment real estate. Our services include tenant placement, maintenance coordination, property inspections, and landlord advice.
Discover the convenience of working with accomplished professionals in Fort Worth, Texas.
