Are Your Properties Ready for Winter?
Outsmarting Jack Frost
By Christian Bryant
Even though the current legislative climate for landlords (especially in Oregon) is very distracting, don’t let it keep you from protecting your property and preparing for winter. If they take the proper steps before winter comes, many landlords will avoid damage, unnecessary after-hours repair expenses, and lawsuits. These expenses can soar up into the tens of thousands of dollars. Next to improvements that will increase rent, and properly managing your tenant, investing in repair and maintenance avoidance will have the largest impact to your long-term bottom line. If you manage your own properties, you really can’t afford to skip these steps. And if you have a professional manager, you need to verify that their weatherization policies and procedures mimic these guidelines. To be as prepared as possible, there are three areas to focus on: the property, the tenants, and your business procedures.
When it comes to preparing your rental property, there are the obvious things like having the gutters cleared from some of the craziest sewer clogs, roofs cleaned, and providing vent and hose bib insulation covers. If you really want to invest in damage prevention due to winter weather, there are many precautions you can take:
- If you live in an area that has prolonged periods of freezing temperatures or your water pipes are exposed
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