Exterior Surfaces to Pressure Wash During Tenant Turnover

Are you a property owner looking to optimize the period between tenant turnovers? Deep cleaning of exterior surfaces is an inexpensive restorative process to have your property look as good as new. 

Exterior surfaces that can be pressure washed to immediately boost the curb appeal of a rental property include; 

• Decks and Patios — These surfaces, whether made of wood, pavers or concrete, can be pressure washed to get rid of grime from algae, mold and mildew build-up. 
• Roofs — A clean and well-maintained roof, free from twigs and debris, gives out an image of high maintenance, and is appealing to the prospective tenant.
• Siding — Acid rain residue on exterior walls in stormy weather can cause unsightly etching and scratching along the siding. 
• Driveways and Sidewalks — To get rid of grease stains, oil spills and chemical build up from road salt and snow melting chemicals. 
• Outdoor pool cage — Can be deep cleaned and pressure washed to remove organic and metallic stains caused by chlorine corrosion. 
• Gutters- Poorly cleaned gutters can discourage prospective clients from renting your property.   
• Large exterior windows and grills — Clean, glistening windows and polished grills free from dust are eye-catching and appealing to people looking to rent the property.
• Concrete and Brick exteriors — Tiny plants like moss and algae hook into walls and spread causing large cracks and are unsightly. Fortunately a pressure wash will easily get rid of them. 

Also note that some of the above exterior surfaces can go a while without being cleaned. However, it's good practice to take on these tasks at least once every year. This will help you keep the workload minimal whenever a tenant moves out and you have to get the place ready for new renters.  

The Takeaway 

Deep cleaning by use of pressure washers is effectively convenient in maintaining the property and restoring the curb appeal. This is key in attracting prospective tenants who will likely endure to keep up the place throughout their stay. In the long run, preventive maintenance goes a long way in reducing costs related to repairs during the tenant turnover period.

Invisible Wear Adds Up

 

The invisible wear and damage to a property are often some of the worst. Too often, these issues are easily ignored or missed, allowing the problems to expand and compound. This is why it is critical to keep up on maintenance and why you must always look for these problems even if you cannot see them at first glance.

 

 Before letting new tenants into the property, be sure to know what state the house is in and keep a record of it to avoid losing disputes, should they arise. Always keep a comprehensive description of the property's condition, including pictures, on hand in case of a disagreement about the source of damage.

 

Hidden Wear and Damage to be on the Lookout For

Tenants' misuse of water and humidifiers can create the perfect environment for mold in corners, cracks, dark places under cabinets, and inside walls. Water damage is common in bathrooms where standing puddles in the bathrooms. Damage to the floor could result in water seeping through into the subfloor. This can happen in other parts of the house and result in water damage and wood rot.

 

Clogged or stuffed up drains and toilets. Though, invisible each should be tested for function and adequate drainage. Some draining issues are simple fixes that are just a result of use, but others may indicate obstructions and costly repairs or piping that may need to be replaced. Some of these issues may happen because tenants are flushing or dumping things into drains, sinks, and toilets that shouldn't be disposed of that way. Also, check the garbage disposal for proper function, draining, and damage for the same reasons. 

Check for hasty repair work to walls, wood floors, tiles, and carpet. Bad tenants will often make subpar repairs to things they damage or wear down to cover their tracks instead of informing the landlord about the issue.

Winterization Tips

 8 Essential Steps in Designing Your Rental Properties for Easy Winterization

Winters will come and go, and you will have to winterize your rental properties for every cold season you encounter. In preparation for this, you could design your property so that when the time comes winterizing will be easy as pie. 

Some steps you could take towards this goal include;

• Installing gutter guards so gutters remain clog-free — The guards strengthen the gutter system and prevent the downspouts from breaking off. They also provide an optimal situation for the installation of heat cables in cold weather.

• Making sure the chutes on downspouts are installed at an angle — Should the winter catch you unawares, this will keep melting ice from flowing to the sidings and the foundation and making unsightly mold stains.

• Eliminate gaping holes and spaces that leak air — They are majorly around ceilings, windows, pipe ducts, and the areas where the siding overlaps with the foundation. These can easily be filled with caulk and will keep warm air from leaking out in winter.

• Installing programmable thermostats — These can be set to automatically turn up the heat when external temperatures dip. During winter, the thermostats can be set to the minimum 55 degrees Fahrenheit required to maintain heat in the property. 

• Install window sills that leave no air spaces — The windows can also be covered with insulated blinds to help keep rooms warm and cozy. 

• Adding built-in draft stoppers to the doors of the unit — This will act as a weatherstripping measure come winter because the air spaces will be closed out.

• Getting storm windows for the property — They are quite effective as they can be used during winter and stored away in warmer conditions. 

• Insulation under floors and in ceilings — During extremely cold days, the houses still feel warm and cozy with the right insulation measures. 

With the above steps done to completion, you'll find that your work will be much easier every time you need to winterize your property. Also, this can save you both time and resources with each winter you encounter. 

Lowering Rent + Long-term Results

 Should you Lower the Rent to Secure Good Long-Term Tenants?

There are pros and cons to lowering the rent to secure a good long-term tenant. As a landlord, you know that the biggest hassle you will experience is dealing with a bad tenant. Good, long-term tenants are pure gold in the landlord business. That said, don't go so low on your rent that you end up losing money. Some risk, some reward should be the goal.

Calculating the Minimum Rental Price to Stay Profitable

When you are considering how low you can go, you need to gain an understanding of all your expenses, so you can ensure you are at least breaking even. Consider your mortgage, taxes, and insurance, as well as a budget for any repairs or recurring maintenance you need to do on the property.

Downside of Lower Rents

Aside from the obvious, making less money, you also run the risk of attracting tenants who can't afford much rent. This might be ok, but you risk finding tenants that don't have secure employment and might not be able to make rent on a couple of occasions. To get good tenants, the rent should be high enough that they have secure employment to always pay the bills. 

Negotiate

If tenants have been recommended to you because of their excellent payment history and ability to take care of the property they live in, consider negotiating the cost of the rent. In normal circumstances, you probably set your rent price a little higher than you need so you can make some profit. It's ok to lose profit margins for the right long-term tenant. You will cash in down the road when you go to sell the property and it is in pristine condition.

Rent prices should always be negotiable. That said, be sure you don't discriminate against any certain demographic because you think they can't pay rent. The decision you have to make is if you want to come down on rent because you have a great long-term tenant lined up.