Rental Property Maintenance
for DIY Landlords

To attract and keep good tenants, rental property maintenance will have to be one of your top priorities. Not only will a well-maintained property attract better quality tenants, it will also generate higher rent levels and increase the market value of the property. And that should be plenty of motivation for you to get your property looking "ship-shape".

Since property maintenance plays such a large role in the success of any real estate investment, lets take a look at the most common maintenance tasks that need to be performed by DIY landlords.

Exterior Maintenance

1.) Lawn Maintenance - It's amazing how much keeping the grounds neat and presentable contributes to the overall appearance of your property. The benefits and results can be quite profound. Mowing the law regularly, keeping the weeds under control, sweeping sidewalks and keeping the yard clean (spring and fall cleanups) is needed to make the property attractive.

2.) Trimming Trees and Bushes - Trees are good for the environment, but sometimes they can be a nuisance. If not maintained, they can easily overrun a property and diminish its appearance, especially when they grow right up against the foundation or extend over the roof. These situations could also be damaging to the house. It's best to remove trees that are too close to the house and/or trim them so that they don't extend over the roof and lift the shingles and clog the gutters.

Bushes that are not trimmed can also detract from the property's appearance a great deal. A little manicuring can make them look like a million bucks!

3.) Exterior Painting - Of all the rental property maintenance tasks, painting provides the most "bang for the buck". Peeling and faded paint probably detracts more from a property's appearance that anything else. It snuffs the life right out of it. Scraping and painting areas that are peeling or faded will make a huge difference. Also, power washing the house will really add some new life to it.

4.) Gutter Cleaning - Cleaning the gutters is especially important if there are trees on your property. In this case, it doesn't take long for leaves, pine needles, etc. to collect in the gutters and downspouts and plug them up. If this happens, rainwater from the roof may overflow off the gutters (like a waterfall) and collect near the foundation. Depending on conditions, this water could seep into the basement, causing big headaches. Also, water that overflows from clogged gutters could get under the shingles and seep into the house, causing a ceiling leak.

Interior Maintenance

1.) Interior Painting - It's normally a good practice to re-paint rental units after tenants who have occupied them for at least one year vacate. There's nothing like the look and smell of a freshly painted rental unit to attract a good renter. A good investment is to purchase an airless paint sprayer to paint the walls and ceilings (an air sprayer is even better but more expensive). An airless sprayer will save you a great deal of time versus doing it manually with a roller.

2.) Cleaning Common Areas and Basements - By law, the landlord is responsible for keeping all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition. In addition to complying with the law, keeping the common areas maintained and in good condition will make your premises more presentable for the tenants.

3.) Replacing Smoke Detector Batteries - This can be the most easily overlooked rental property maintenance task. A good rule of thumb is to replace smoke detector batteries every six months, or each time the clocks are changed in the spring and fall. In the event of a fire, having smoke detectors that work can save lives.

Keeping your property maintained and in good condition will surely benefit you and your tenants. It creates a "win-win" situation all the way around.

For more in-depth information on rental property maintenance, please visit The Landlord's Library book collection. It's a great resource that will surely maximize your success as a residential landlord.

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