Rental Properties + Equity

 

Can a House Have "Too Much Equity" to Be a Rental?

One of the advantages of a rental house is that it builds its own equity. Rental payments cover mortgage payments and you gain equity over time. However, when it comes to market conditions, sometimes the most profitable choice is not to continue renting a property. You may find yourself in a situation where properties in your rental regions are seeing a significant incrase in property values but a lag in rental rates.

This means rental properties in the area could make you significantly greater profits if listed for sale compared to the slow pace of local rental income. How can you best use your properties for the overall benefit of your portfolio and rental business? As an experienced property management team, Leaf Management can help by sharing a few insights we've learned from seeing these market conditions before.

 

Equity and Profit Potential

Equity plays an important role when deciding what to do in a high property value market environment.  The more equity you have in a home, the more profit you can make from a sale because you have less of the remaining mortgage to pay back from the sale price. While you rent a house, it build equity through paid mortgage payments and when the mortgage is fully paid, 100% of the profits from rent goes to you instead.

However, it's also important to consider your greater rental business strategy. High equity spells opportunity if you know how to use it. This is especially true with homes where the property value is outstripping the potential for rental income.

 

Investing in Portfolio Growth

Another important consideration is that a sudden influx of profit from a home sale can make it possible to grow your portfolio. Landlords use a number of equity-related strategies to create the resources to buy new rental properties. This can increase your overall rental income and potential for long-term profits.

You could sell the high-equity home while property values are high and use the proceeds to buy a house in a neighborhood with higher rental rates, or invest in two starter homes instead for double income at a lower rate. You could also reclaim the equity itself through a HELOC or equity-based loan for the same effect while holding onto the original property and growing your portfolio at the same time.

 

Sell the Home: Buy Low, Sell High

One way to look at rental homes is like any other investment, where the goal is to buy low and sell high. Rental homes make money while in your portfolio, but you can also maximize your profits by selling a home when it's value peaks in the local market. Just as it is more profitable to buy homes at their lowest sale value and spruce them up for a good rental income, selling high is equally strategic.

 

Cash-Out Refinancing

Cash-out refinancing is when you borrow more money than you currently own on the property and take the excess in cash. It's a way to access your equity without significantly changing the terms of your mortgage.

For example, if you started with a $300,000 mortgage and paid it down to $100,000 left with $200,000 in equity, you could then take  cash-out refinance mortgage of $150,000 and get $50,000 in cash from your equity to use as a downpayment on your next portfolio property.

The smaller mortgage would likely come with significantly lower monthly payments meaning more profit per month and/or a shorter repayment period and better terms.

 

HELOC Improvements to Raise the Rent

You could also use the equity to reinvest in the house. Rather than letting the lagging rental rates slow your roll, access your equity with a HELOC and make improvements. The right strategic renovations can help the house step up into a higher rental rate bracket, attracting more upscale and luxury renters willing to pay more for the home.

 

Keep Renting for the Long Game

Your final option is to hold position anticipating that market conditions are always changing. If this property has been steadily profitable and/or you have reliable long-term tenants who you don't want to displace, then you don't have to make a change. That equity will still be there when you need it and home prices rarely drop significantly after they rise. Holding steady is often the right answer when managing rental properties where long-term strategies tend to provide reliable returns.

 

Strategize Your Portfolio with Leaf Management

Knowing the right strategy to optimize your portfolio is not always clear. When market conditions leave you wondering about the best way to improve your rental home profits, Leaf Management can help. Contact us today to talk portfolio strategy any time.

Desirable Features that are Rental Liabilities

 

6 "Desirable" Features That Are Liabilities in Rentals

You want your rental home to be profitable. One of the best ways to charge a little extra rent is to have luxury features that renters love. While it's easy to find lists of desirable features, what the trend lists don't tell you is the risks that come with each upgrade. Certain features may be in high demand, but renters don't realize the liabilities involved.

Whether you're considering properties for your portfolio or profitable renovations, it's important to know the risks associated with otherwise attractive features in a rental home.

 

Swimming Pools

If you've ever lived in a home with swimming pool, you know how much work they require. Cleaning, covering, and chlorinating in a constant cycle or the water because not just green, but a fetid water-filled pit and mosquito breeding ground.

If you have a rental property with a swimming pool, either you need renters comitted to maintaining the pool or to provide a pool service to keep the pool in good condition. Even well-maintained, pools increase the risk of on-proprty injuries and accidents.

 

Wall to Wall Carpet

There was a time when carpets were considered the height of home luxury. Now we know how quickly they accumulate wear-and-tear. Carpets require regular cleaning and replacement every few years. They get stained, compacted, burned, and the carpet pad is a magnet for mold after spills and leaks. In contrast, laminate wood floors are extremely popular right now and provide a flooring that is both more elegant and longer lasting.

While you might not turn down a home with carpets, wall to wall carpets will likely need to be replaced in the near future.

 

Solar Panels

Eco-friendly renters love the idea of renting a home with solar panels. But they won't expect the responsibility of maintaining those panels. In addition, the tie-in to the home's power system and the electrical grid add to the liability potential if something goes wrong. Like a swimming pool, solar panels are a feature landlords must plan to maintain themselves no matter how attractive renters find them.

All-White Kitchen/Bathroom

Then there's the oh-so-trendy all-white kitchen (or bathroom). An all-white design may look amazing when clean. However, nothing shows dirt, spills, or damage like an all-white kitchen. Scuffs on the cabinets, scratches in the cooktop, and other little wear-and-tear occurences will make an all-white kitchen fade all too quickly. 

Rental homes benefit from durable and wear-tolerant designs. Neutral colors and textured surfaces will not only help your tenants enjoy their kitchen between pristine cleanings, but it will also minimise the need for touch-ups during turnover for your kitchens (and bathrooms) to maintain their appeal.

 

Whole-Home Generators

A whole-home generator sounds like a great idea. Who doesn't want backup power during storms and outages? The only problem is that a whole-home generator isn't one of those convenient "set it and forget it" features you can let your tenants take care of. A large generator connected to the home's power grid needs constant maintenance and inspections. And if something goes wrong, the generator itself can become a source of danger. It might produce carbon monoxide, become a fire hazard, or cause a power surge in the home's electrical system if poorly maintained or used improperly.

 

Basement Bedrooms

Finished basements can be a big hit with renters who like the extra space and the potential for a sound-proofed den or home office. Some homes have a basement kitchen or a convenient extra bathroom. What you want to avoid is a basement bedroom or suite unless you are 100% sure that the bedroom conforms to the building code. In most states and cities, bedrooms absolutely must have a window (for fire escape reasons) and not all basements are suitable. While a house might have a finished basement, you can't list that space as a bedroom (and should encourage renters not to use it that way) unless it meets bedroom safety design requirements.

 

Building a Secure Rental Portfolio

When building your rental home portfolio, avoiding unecessary liability should factor into your plans.  Why take the risk of unecessary property damage, tenant injuries, excessive maintenance requirements, unpredictable equipment failure, or future safety-related lawsuits when you don't have to? Simply avoid these high-liability features no matter how attractive they might be to renters in your area.

For more useful insights on how to keep your rental portfolio safe and profitable, call Leaf Management.

Unique Flips and Their Unique Risks

 

4 Unique Risks of Pier and Beam Flips—And How to Handle Them

Pier and beam homes are set on foundations of piers - concrete or wood posts set deep into the ground - and beams which support the house set on top of the piers. This type of foundation is excellent for regions with shifting soil and periodic flooding. So you'll see them frequently in regions where these conditions are common. Of course, like any architectural style, pier and beam homes also come with their own challenges.

When flipping a house with a pier and beam foundation,  it's important to watch out for the unique risks that come with a house that's up off the ground. Let's talk about what to expect and how to handle each challenge to make your flip a success.

 

1) Pests Below the House

Pier and beam homes have a crawl space that is usually not well-sealed this means it creates a sheltered space for pests to move in. From local insects to rodent colonies, any pier and beam property might be home to an entire secret "family" below. This can catch flippers unawares but if you know it's a risk, the proactive steps are easy to plan.

Have the area below the house inspected for pests big and small. If there are insects, call the exterminator. If there are bees, have them collected by a pollinator preservation service. And if there are rodents, call animal control for humane removal, if possible. Then leave deterrents and seal up the outer sheathing to keep them from coming back.

 

2) Hidden Mold Growth

Pier and beam can also hide a different kind of colony. Mold colonies love to live below pier and beam homes where moisture gets trapped between the lumber beams and the damp earth below.  It's dark and protected, the perfect environment for vast and dangerous mold growth. This can pose a health hazard and long-term structural hazard if undetected. But knowing is half the battle when it comes to mold.

Have the crawl space of your flip inspected for mold. Make sure mold isn't eating away at the wooden beams or any wooden elements of the piers. Check for sponginess and hidden spaces. If mold is found, call a local mold remediation service to have it removed. Extensive mold damage can mean you might need foundation repairs as well, but pier and beam repairs tend to be more affordable and less extensive than slab foundation repairs.

 

3) DIY Plumbing Arrangements

Another risk that you might not see coming with a pier and beam flip is DIY plumbing (or electrical) arrangements. Because previous owners could reach the plumbing under the house, they might have decided to get creative about adding new fixtures or repairing damaged pipes. This could cause some serious problems in the future, including issues with building codes. It may be even more problematic if there are DIY electrical splices down there.

Get your crawl space inspected by a licensed plumber and have anything questionable built to code. Do the same with electrician if you see unsafe or DIY-looking work below.  This ensures you will be legally protected and future residents will be safer when it comes time to sell or rent the home.

 

4) Damaged Piers or Sagging Beams

Pier and beam foundations also have a shorter lifespan than most slab foundations. However, the individual components can be shored up, repaired, or replaced more easily than a concrete slab. Check the level of the floors inside the home and check the pier and beam structure below the house to find out if there are any lurking maintenance issues or major repairs that need to take place before you complete the flip.

 

Flipping a Pier and Beam Property

When planning to flip a home on a pier and beam foundation, make sure to have the crawlspace inspected and calculate for proactive maintenance steps in your total flipping project budget.  While it is possible that a pier and beam home might have none of these problems, it's always better to never be caught by surprise.  Leaf Management has worked with properties in every architectural scope and our pros have useful insights to improve your local flipping strategy. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you pick and plan the most profitablef flips.

Security Deposit Best Practices

 

Landlord Security Deposit Tips and Best Practices

Security deposits represent an agreement of trust and security between a landlord and their tenants. When a tenant pays the security deposit, they agree to take care of the property or accept deductions from the money they could get back. When a landlord sends the security deposit back, they are acknowledging that the tenants were good stewards of the property. It encourages responsibility, timely repairs, and teamwork to protect your investment. This is why it's important for landlords to have a rock-solid policy that both rewards good tenants and fairly covers expenses for undue damage and costs.

The security deposit covers for tenants who are rough on a house, even if they are not malicious, and eases guilt if tenants have to leave an inconvenient mess due to a personal emergency. It also rewards tenants who can take the time to fill holes, paint over scuffs, and request repairs before they leave by sending money to them during their move, when they likely need it the most.

So, what are the best practices for managing security deposits as a landlord? Here's how to use security deposits both to protect your properties and reward good tenants.

 

Set a Reasonable Security Deposit

The first step is to set a security deposit amount in proportion to the property. States that have laws regarding security deposit typically set the limit at this amount, as well. Setting the security deposit higher than one month's rent is only reasonable (and possible) in states with a higher limit and with high-end properties where your tenants are more likely to be high-income with more liquid capital to invest in a rental home up-front.

 

Define What Can Be Deducted From the Deposit

Next, clearly define the damage and expenses that can be deducted from a security deposit. This should exclude normal wear-and-tear that can occur no matter how quietly a family lives. It should include overt damage, unreported repairs, and cleanup required if the tenants left a mess.

What to Deduct

• Holes in the walls
• Burnt or badly scratched floors
• Broken plumbing and major clogs
• Unreported damage
• Unreported visible and excessive mold
• Unpaid utility bills
• Unpaid rent
• Abandoned property disposal
• Valuable property shipping to the tenant's new location
• Destroyed landscaping features

What Not to Deduct

• Minor nail holes 
• Scuffs on walls and doors
• Loose but not broken fixtures
• Worn but not damaged carpets
• Dry grass and flower beds
• A few missed non-valuable items (lost socks)

 

Complete the Move-In and Move-Out Inspections

Move-in and move-out inspections are valuable for both landlords and tenants. A move-in inspection proves the condition of the home just before the tenant moves in. Make sure the inspection is done right, with photographs and notes that are stored as records in your property manage documents or online platform. 

The move-out inspection proves the condition of the property immediately after the tenant moves out. Make sure this is also completed thoroughly with photos, notes, and records. The move-out inspection should be completed on the last day, with the tenant present if possible. If the tenant can't stay, complete the inspection ASAP after the truck is gone with a hard-coded timestamp.

This ensures that any damages you deduct from the security deposit are definitely left behind by the tenant. And if any damage occurs after they are gone, it cannot be charged to them.

 

Respond Quickly to Repair Requests

During the tenant's stay, make it clear that you welcome repair requests for the good of the property. Then, respond to requests with a friendly attitude and send your repair teams as quickly as possible. This builds a routine of teamwork with your tenants to keep your property in top condition, prevent little problems from growing into major damage, and addresses issues promptly.

Not only do quick and friendly repairs make tenants happy, it also increases the overall quality of the home when your tenants hand it back so there is a far lower chance of problems that could be charged to the security deposit. If tenants complete their duty to report needed repairs, they won't be charged for the repair costs.

 

Provide a Move-Out Checklist

Help your tenants leave the house in the best possible condition with a move-out checklist. When your tenants report that they won't be renewing the lease, or 2 months before their move-out date, provide a checklist of everything that will be included in the move-out inspection. 

Remind your tenants to:

• Fill nail holes from decorations and furniture installations they remove
• Touch up paint over scuffs and minor damage, or request your assistance to do so (if your paint colors are hard to match)
• Clear out all storage areas, including often-forgotten spaces like the attic or crawl space
• Broom-clean, vacuum, and wipe down the house. It doesn't have to be spotless, but empty and clean
• Request any final repairs before they are penalized

You can also provide a copy of the move-in inspection with photos and notes to show the move-in condition of the house. Tenants who address the move-out checklist can secure all or most of their security deposit returned.

 

Return the Security Deposit On Time

Check your state laws to determine your time limit on returning the security deposit. Check with your tenants on the best route to send them the money back, and do so within that time limit. If you make deductions, define each one in an itemized list including the damage and the repair costs.

Clarity can ensure that your tenants understand any deductions and appreciate your prompt return of money they can use to help smooth their transition to a new home.

 

Handle Security Deposits Right with Leaf Management

If you want to make sure every one of your rental homes handles inspections and security deposits correctly and on-time, Leaf Management can help. Our skilled property management team will ensure that move-in and move-out inspections are conducted with full documentation, your tenants receive timely repairs, move-out checklists are sent out, and security deposits are sent back with itemized deductions in time with the state laws for each property location. Contact us today to explore property management for your rental homes.

 

Adding Someone to a Lease

 Can You Add Someone to a Lease?

 

 

A rental home lease is usually one year long. However, life rarely conforms to that kind of schedule. When people need to change living arrangements, these moments happen organically. Perhaps your romantic partner is ready to move in, or maybe a good friend needs a place to stay. You might have a roommate moving out and need to bring in someone new. There are two sides to each situation. One side is personal and the other is logistics.

Inviting someone to live with you is personal, but adding them to the lease is absolutely necessary. Any time someone will be joining you for more than a single month, they probably need to also join your rental home lease.

 

Can You Add Someone to a Lease?

Yes. It's easy to add someone to a lease if you understand the process.

Reasons Why a New Person Might Need to Join Your Lease

• Moving In a Romantic Partner
• Welcoming a Friend Who Needs a New Place
• Taking Care of a Relative
• Sharing the Rent with a New Roommate

 

How to Add Someone to a Rental Home Lease

To add a new person to your lease, they will need to fill out an application. This provides information about the new person's income to run a background check . There will be a simple 4-step process:

1. Fill out a new tenant application
2. Pay the application fee
3. Complete the background check
4. Get added to the lease

An application ensures that landlords know who is living in their community and occupying each unit. In most cases, the new person will be approved - especially if you have already met the rent-to-income financial requirements. Then, the new person will be asked to sign a copy of the lease.

Landlord will make a new copy of the lease available with all current names, either printed or digital.

 

Why Add To Your Lease vs Just Moving In

There are plenty of reasons why someone might move in. Life happens, and living arrangements can change. However, a long-term guest is not the same thing as living together with a romantic partner or having an official roommate.

Equality

Two adults on a lease are equals. They are equally responsible for paying rent and taking care of the rental home. With only one person on the lease, the other person is just a guest. They are both staying on the good graces of the leased resident and also free to leave whenever they want without obligations. Sharing a lease is sharing permanance and equality.

Following the Rules

Leases also usually have rules regarding long-term guests. You could get into trouble if someone is living in your rental home that didn't go through the application process. This is seen as potentially unsafe by landlords because non-leased residents can lead to liability issues. If you don't want to violate your own lease, new living partners should apply, get their background check, and get officially added to the lease.

 

The Benefits of Adding Someone to Your Lease

Being on the lease provides some important benefits for everyone who shares a rental home. This isn't just for the sake of compliance with the lease terms regarding long-term guests. The current resident, new resident, and landlords benefit when everyone is on the lease.

Tenant Rights and Protections

The new resident gains the full rights and protections of a legal tenant. This includes the right to request repairs, access to amenities, and respect of their possessions as a rightful resident of the rental home.

Proof of Residence

The new resident can use their recently signed lease as proof of residence. This can be useful when applying for things like insurance, jobs, identification, and local discounts, among other things.

Shared Rent Responsibility

The current resident gains assurance that their new roommate can be held equally responsible for the rent. This often provides peace of mind when friends or friendly acquaintances move in together.

Liability for Damages

Likewise, all parties share liability for damage so no one can be left fully in the lurch if something goes wrong.

 

Can You Remove Someone from a Lease?

Yes. Swapping roommates is completely normal. When someone moves out, the practical answer is to have them removed from the lease. This gives you the right to take back their key and for all remaining (or new) residents to claim full control over the home.

You can have someone removed from the lease by talking to the landlord. If the person confirms that they are moving out, they can sign an addendum document that removes them from the lease for the rest of the term year.

 

Minimizing Late Rent Payments

 

How to Minimize the Risk of Late Rent Payments

On-time rental payments are the hallmark of a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. When your tenant pays their rent on time, it is an indication that they are financially stable and respect the terms of their rental contract. In contrast, late rent payments can indicate a number of potential problems, from one poorly timed paycheck to a slippery slope of financial instability. 

Late payments also pose a challenge for landlords when maintaining a steady cash flow and a good relationship with your tenants. No one wants to have to chase down rent, so what can you do to minimize the risk of late rent payments?

 

Accept a Wide Range of Payment Options

First, make it easy for your tenants to pay their rent in whatever way is most convenient. When rent can be paid the same way youre tenants handle their other bills and online shopping, it is more likely to be taken care of during each person's usual monthly routine. However, as we live in such a diverse and digitally hybrid world, each person's preference and routine may be a little different.

Popular payment options include:

• Credit card
• Debit card
• Digital wallets (ex: ApplePay, GooglePay, PayPal)
• Paper checks

Your best bet is to set up a tenant portal that accepts online payments using a conventional payment processing service that will be familiar to anyone who shops or pays for services online.

 

Enable Auto Payments

Auto-pay is a life saver for the busy and absent-minded. Many tenants don't mean to miss rent, but life is busy and monthly tasks are far apart. Auto-pay enables an automatic transfer from the tenant's bank account or credit card every month. 

Essentially, auto-pay is a rent subscription. Tenants that have many subscriptions or are familiar with auto-paying bills often prefer to put their rent on a timer instead of remembering to pay it manually each month.

 

Screen for On-Time Payment History

It's also important to select tenants with a positive payment history. When choosing future tenants, select applicants that appear to have a financial history of on-time payments and well-managed credit accounts. These are indicaators that a person is generally able to pay their bills on time through both financial security and personal responsibility.

 

Clarify Late Fees and Penalties

Let your tenants know that there are penalties for late rent payment from the outset. Include late rent fees in the lease contract and mention the late fee when you go over the terms with a new or prospective tenant. There's no need to stress the issue, but ensure that your tenants see and understand that a late fee or certain penalties will be enacted if they are X number of days late with the rent on any given month.

 

Provide a Small Grace Period

While a late fee can discourage careless late rent payment, it's also helpful to provide a grace period. A grace period is typically a few days after the rent date in which a payment can be late without penalty. Grace periods are useful to maintain good relations with well-meaning and responsible tenants because, as we know, delays happen.

• Some tenants are paid on a specific day of the week, which doesn't always align with the first of the month.
• A tenant may be paid on a bank holiday and unable to cash their check until a day or two later. 
• A server error may delay or fail to send their payment.
• A tenant may forget everything during a personal emergency or special holiday until next Monday rolls around.

The typical grace period is 5 days, but you can adapt your grace period based on what seems practical.

 

Send Reminders to Forgetful Tenants

Landlords have also had some success reminding absent-minded tenants a few days before rent is due. You can easily set up an automated message routine that will send an email or text message to tenants to help them remember to pay on time. This method is particularly useful when renting to students and other young populations who may be new to renting and responsible monthly routines.

 

Manage Every Tenant's Rental Schedule with Leaf Management

Reducing the risk of late rent benefits from a comprehensive approach and, sometimes, a personalized solution. The more properties you own, the more important your late rent prevention strategy becomes. Leaf Management can hel you balance the needs of your operating balance with individual tenant payment schedules. Contact us to explore property management services.

Property Issues to Expect Amidst Winter

 

The 7 Biggest Rental Property Problems You'll See in Heavy Winters

When you own a rental property in a wintery climate, be prepared for winter maintenance calls. Tenants rely on the tenant-landlord partnership to help keep the property warm, safe, and in livable condition despite the winter's best efforts. Heavy winters involve deep layers of snow, ice, far-below-freezing temperatures, and strange moisture issues. 

Hearty winter-region tenants will often be able to navigate many of the routine tasks like keeping the gutters clear and shoveling the driveway, but there are a number of tasks and maintenance issues that you'll want to address and plan for as the property owner.

 

1) Not Enough Hot Water / Water Not Hot Enough

Water heater troubles are a known issue in the deep winter. As the ambient temperature drops, water heaters struggle to get the tank to hot temperatures. Cooler air temperatures around the tank and colder water entering through the intake pipe both make up part of the problem.

If your tenants call regarding not enough hot water or their water is not hot enough, there are two likely solutions and enacting both is a good idea.

• Flush and service the water heater - send a maintenance service to flush, clean, and tune-up the water heater. This can help you pre-empt leaks, pilot light problems, and temperature sensor calibration issues as well.
• Wrap the water heater - Apply a special insulating blanket designed for water heaters to help keep the water warmer and safe from winter temperatures.

 

2) Plumbing Problems: Clogs to Burst Pipes

Cold weather often brings plumbing problems. Clogs are common because materials tend to congeal in the cold and are more likely to form a clog instead of flowing away. In extremely cold weather, pipes can even burst when the water inside freezes.

You can reduce the risk of both problems by insulating the pipes in your rental homes, especially in unheated spaces like the basement, attic, and crawl space. But it also helps to keep a plumber on call for winter clogs.

 

3) HVAC Heating Problems and Cold Drafts

Cold drafts, not enough heat, or the HVAC heater not working are crucial problems for your rental property during a heavy winter. It is your responsibility to keep your tenants warm with a working heating system.

For cold drafts:

• Caulk up the windows
• Reinstall weather stripping
• Seal cracks
• Add insulation to the attic
• Have the HVAC air-balanced

For HVAC heating problems:

• Send an HVAC service in the autumn before the hard winter sets in. Have them clean and tune up the heater.
• Be prepared to send an emergency heating repair service at any time, day or night
• Provide supplementary heating like firewood and battery-powered blankets during heating or power outages.

 

4) Leaks from Roof to Foundation

Heavy winters mean tons of snow and ice, which can lead to unexpected moisture problems. During the daily light melt and re-freeze cycle, puddles can cause problems for your foundation, while piled snow can cause problems for your roof.

Make sure your gutters, roof, and attic are in top form and ready for winter before the snows, and take steps to protect your foundation from winter moisture seepage. Foundation coatings and barriers are a popular choice.

If a maintenance emergency occurs mid-winter, have reliable contractors on-call who can do winter repairs.

 

5) Fallen Tree Limbs

Heavy snow can also wreak havoc on your trees. One of the most disastrous problems for a rental house is fallen tree limbs broken by heavy snow. Tree limbs can do serious damage to your roof and siding depending on the size and placement of the limb.

Trim trees so they don't overhang the house during warmer seasons to prevent fallen tree limb damage. If a tree limb falls during the winter, call for emergency repairs depending on the type of damage that was done.

 

6) Blocked Fireplace Chimney

If your rental house has a fireplace, you can bet that your tenants will test it out in the winter. Fires are cheerful, warm, and add to holiday cheer. But first, the chimney needs to be clear. From a hard-to-see flue control to birds nesting in the chimney, don't be surprised if tenants call to request maintenance so the fireplace works correctly.

If you're lucky, your tenants will know how to check before they light the first fire.

For homes with a fireplace, consider scheduling a chimney inspection and provide a quick guide to working the flue before the temperature plummets too far. Providing seasoned firewood can also help encourage only burning clean and advisable fuel.

 

7) Outdoor Wood Rot

For homes with a deck, porch, balcony, or wooden fence: watch out for winter wood rot. The moisture and cold combined can acellerate wood rot in the winter, leading to loose railings and crumbling deck boards. Sealing your deck and other outdoor wood assets in the summer is the best way to prevent the risk of outdoor wood rot during a heavy winter, but you can also advise tenants to regularly sweep the deck and clear heavy snow from the balcony.

 

 

Handle Winter Rental Maintenance with Leaf Management

Preparing a rental house to keep your tenants safe through heavy winters requires careful planning, and handling winter maintenance emergencies is a must. Gain the benefit of a team that understands winter climates with the help of Leaf Management.