As a property owner in Atlanta, it is your duty to ensure your property remains safe and in perfect shape for occupation. Experienced owners, therefore, schedule routine inspection and maintenance, to enable the tenants remain comfortable and prevent the repair costs from becoming exorbitant due to long periods of neglect. If you are a landlord in Atlanta, the following are a few useful rental property inspection and maintenance tips.

DIY Property Owner Hacks

Before the tenant moves in:

i. DIY or Hire a property Management company

First, you must decide whether to carry out the property inspection and maintenance by yourself or contract an experienced Property Management firm. Both options have pros and cons. For instance, while DIY will help you save some money, it will consume your time. Still, at the end of the day, the onus is on you to settle for the alternative you prefer.

ii. Identify the right repair and maintenance contractors

DIY property management does not necessarily mean you carry out the actual repairs. Some damages might just be beyond your skill scope. For this reason, you must identify a reliable property repair and maintenance contractor in Atlanta that you can call upon if and when the need arises.

iii. Schedule the property inspections

The saying prevention is better than the cure couldn’t be truer than in the case of property maintenance. Therefore, plan to inspect the property at different times such as before a new tenant moves in, after the tenant moves in, as well as at the end of the lease agreement. These inspections checks will help to identify the defects or damages on the property and also prevent potential future costly disagreements between you and your renters. Moreover, indicate in the lease agreement that you will have to conduct scheduled and at times impromptu inspection visits on the property, and the amount of alert notice you need to give the tenant before accessing the asset.

When the tenant moves in:

i. Educate your renters

When a tenant moves into your property, give him or her an information pack or a manual of the things he or she should do to safeguard the property from damage. Furthermore, make it clear to the renters what action they need to take in the event the property needs repair or maintenance.

ii. Respond swiftly to repairs or property damage concerns

As a property owner in Atlanta, when a tenant informs you of damage or breakdown, do not delay in responding to it. In fact, do not overlook problems or postpone the repairs until the time for the scheduled maintenance. Such a delay might result in costly repairs. For instance, lags in attending to tenant concerns about a leaky faucet can lead to an all blown out bathroom emergency.

iii. Keep up with the routine property inspection and maintenance

During the life of the lease agreement, continue making the routine inspection of the property and watch out for any potential problems. What to look for during your inspection:

a. Check for leaks or signs of water damage

Examine the roof, walls, and floor for any signs of water damage. Common indications would include spots and stains on the ceiling, and discoloration or peeling of the wall paint. Also look for water pools around the toilet, the hand-wash basin, sinks, windows, showers, boilers and water heaters. In case you come across signs of water damage, get a professional plumber to repair the property.

b. Test the smoke detectors

Once every month you need to check the hard-wired and battery-operated smoke and carbon detectors to guarantee that they are in sound working conditions. An easy way of testing these devices is pressing the test button to verify that the alarm works.

c. Clean the roof, guttering, chimney and furnace

Properties situated near tall mature trees get leaves, twigs and debris falling on their roofs, gutters, drainpipes, and fireplaces. Besides making the property unattractive, the buildup can clog the gutters, chimneys, and drain pipes, resulting in more structural damage to the property. In such a situation, your solution as a property owner in Atlanta can be to cut down the trees or hire competent Atlanta roof cleaning contractors

d. Look for signs of pest infestation

If there is anything that tarnishes the image and reputation of a rental property, it is pest infestation. Look for any signs of mosquitoes, bedbugs, mites, termites, bees, ants and pesky rodents. If you notice any sign that indicates a current or previous infestation, consider extermination. Even if the building does not have signs of infestation, plan to carry out extermination at least once or twice a year.

e. Scrutinize the Shower

Probe the area around the tub to determine if there is any loose caulk, or cracked and broken tiles. If you notice any cracks, replace the grout or caulking to prevent further structural damage resulting from the leaking water.

f. Check the Air Con and HVAC units

Take the time to inspect the filters of your heating and air conditioning units at least once each month, and replace those that are worn out or dirty. Dirty or inefficient filters can cause your energy bills to spike and in unfortunate circumstances damage your heating and cooling equipment.

g. Examine the deck

Go over the floor to verify that it is in good condition. If you find any damaged or missing wood or tile, replace or repair it. If possible, apply epoxy or any other reliable non-slip flooring paint on the deck, stairs and porch to prevent slips and falls. Remember, if a tenant sustains a Slip or fall injury on your property, you can easily find yourself battling legal claims.

h. Pay attention to the house exterior

Do not just focus on the interior sections of the house, but concentrate on the outside as well. Ensure that the walls are free of mold and damp. Furthermore, make sure that there are no weeds, shrubs, overgrown plants and or grass in the garden. Repair any broken garden furniture, fence or garden décor, and consider redecorating the lawn. Lastly, revamp the curb to ensure it has an attractive appeal.

Once you decide to be a DIY property owner, you must make effort to put in place processes. This will help you in terms of managing everything, most importantly your time.

We hope this helps!