As the owner of Baltimore investment properties, each season comes with its own unique property maintenance needs you should attend to. Maintenance tasks tend to stack up when left unaddressed, resulting in small fixes ballooning into more significant roadblocks later on. With summer almost underway, it’s valuable to consider the seasonal maintenance tasks that should be taken care of. Summer is a popular period for tenant turnover, and as such, it’s a great time to focus on getting to those maintenance duties you might have put off. As veteran property managers, here are our 6 summer maintenance tips for 2024 that you should focus on.
Tip 1: Address Your Landscaping
First, let’s start outside. Not all kinds of investment properties will have demanding landscaping requirements, but if yours does, proper care is essential. Your lease should outline whether standard landscaping care is the responsibility of the owner or, the tenants. Regardless of this arrangement, landscaping can quickly get out of hand in the summer, so it’s important to invest in more involved projects during this period. Overgrown gardens can damage the foundation of your home, or those of adjoining properties, and can also become a breeding ground for pests that damage your yard and belongings. If your outdoor spaces become unmanageable, you may face steep fines in municipalities like Baltimore City. You can tackle landscaping tasks yourself, or bring on a trusted contractor to get the project done.
In addition, if you’re looking to fill a vacant property, you’ll want an attractive curb appeal, and to get the property condition started off on the right foot for the next set of tenants. With the rate of rapid plant growth in the summer, it’s essential to conduct regular landscaping to prevent the growth of weeds, trees, and vines that can damage your yard and the facade of your home.
Tip 2: Roof and Attic Inspection
Your roof is an interconnected system that relies upon a well-maintained exterior roof as well as a properly cared-for attic space. Summer brings three unique challenges for roofing systems: dry rot, powerful storms, and moisture buildup from humidity. Without proper inspection, your shingles can crack from prolonged exposure to the sun, or become damaged by debris and heavy downpours from summer storms. If your attic has any ventilation issues, it risks building up mold from the high levels of seasonal humidity.
Scheduling an inspection of your roof and attic is an important preventative step in caring for your investment property. Roof damage can often be addressed early on to extend the longevity of your roof. However, if you let the problem get out of hand, you can expect to pay a pricy roof replacement bill sooner rather than later.
Tip 3: Address Insect Nests
When the weather gets warm, insect activity spikes up drastically. Investment property owners of all kinds may find themselves at the unpleasant receiving end of insect invasions. Fortunately, a few steps can help you prevent further infestations. Scan your property for problem areas, looking out for ant hills, wasp nests, and more. Remove these nests, and research preventative pesticides that are the right fit for your property. If you have a phobia of insects, an exterminator may be the best option to ensure your property is protected from the damage they can cause.
Tip 4: Check Window and Door Seals
Like in the winter, homes need to use more energy to maintain an optimal temperature in the summertime. Even if utilities are your tenant’s responsibility, it’s still important to take steps to help make them more comfortable in their homes. Leaky windows or doors can reduce the efficiency of Baltimore investment properties, allowing cool air to escape and reducing the effectiveness of air conditioning. Typically, fixing window seals and doors is a straightforward job that can be promptly addressed. Doing so will increase the satisfaction of your tenants and reduce the carbon footprint of your properties.
Tip 5: Conduct an HVAC Inspection
With the hot weather, your home’s air conditioning system will be working overtime to keep the unit cool. If your system goes out, it can create an expensive repair bill and may be grounds for tenants to legally withhold rent until the issue is addressed. Bring in HVAC experts to check the health of your air conditioning system, replace air filters, and ensure your home is ready for the sweltering months ahead.
Tip 6: Check Your Decks and Porches
Taking care of your Baltimore investment properties is not just beneficial for your tenants, but helps maintain property values over time. One final task is to take a look at any porches or deck spaces. Over time, sun, rain, and insects can cause damage to wooden decking, stairs, and railings. In some instances, you may be able to apply a coat of sealant to increase the lifespan of wood decking materials. In other instances, you may replace single boards, or the entire structure themselves if they pose a safety risk to your tenants. Checking this item off your list will give you peace of mind for the summer months to come.
Entrust Your Maintenance to a Reputable Property Management Company
If your list of summer maintenance tasks seems daunting, you can instead entrust the responsibility to a reputable Baltimore property management company. Premier Property Management has helped investors of portfolios large and small to care for their properties and meet the needs of their tenants. See how we can free up your time and energy with a free consultation today.
