| Are you tired of maintenance calls from your | | | | Step 4. Appliances: The biggest appliance problems |
| tenants? Then this 5 step guide will help you reduce | | | | are the dishwasher, garbage disposal, and the burners |
| and or eliminate future headaches. | | | | on a stove. |
| Through out the years I have discovered the biggest | | | | Check the dishwasher by running it through its full |
| maintenance problem areas are: plumbing, drains, | | | | cycle. Take off the bottom cover at the base and |
| toilets, appliances, and heating/cooling. Those are the | | | | make sure there are no leaks while it is running. |
| areas you should focus on when preparing a vacant | | | | Repair any leaks. |
| house for a new tenant. Are you ready to get | | | | Next check the inside of the dishwasher and make |
| started? | | | | sure it is draining properly at the end of the wash |
| Here Are The 5 Steps To Take: | | | | cycle. |
| Step 1. The Plumbing: Check each faucet and make | | | | If a motor goes out on a dishwasher it is more cost |
| sure it operates properly. The water should stop | | | | effective to replace the dishwasher with a new one. |
| dripping when the hot and cold water knobs are | | | | Next test every burner on the stove to make sure |
| closed. Repair as required. Next look under each sink | | | | they operate and heat up. If they don't you will |
| with a flash light while the water is running and make | | | | usually have to replace the non working burner |
| sure there are no leaks at supply lines and drain. | | | | element. Tenants usually destroy a burner element |
| Repair as required. | | | | with excessive grease/oil when they are cooking. |
| Next check the water supply line going to the toilets | | | | Next test the oven and make sure it is heating |
| and verify there are no leaks or evidence of a leak. | | | | properly. |
| Next check the showers and bath tubs for operation. | | | | Refrigerators have a tendency to collect a lot of |
| The water control knobs should be secure and the | | | | dust around the condenser coils on the back of the |
| water should stop when the valves are closed. Take | | | | refrigerator. A wet/dry vacuum works good for |
| notice of how the water flows from the shower | | | | cleaning them. |
| head. If clogged soak in vinegar or CLR chemical. | | | | Next clean the drain hole and drip pan. The drain hole |
| Next inspect the hot water heater for signs of | | | | often gets clogged with food particles. Refer to your |
| leakage at the base and at the water supply line | | | | owners manual for location of drain hole and drip pan. |
| going into the top of the tank. Repair or replace as | | | | Garbage disposals: I always remove them from |
| required. Next inspect the washer machine water | | | | middle to low end houses because they cause |
| supply lines for leaks and repair as required. Next | | | | excessive maintenance calls. Tenants think they can |
| check outside faucets/spigots for proper operation | | | | put anything down a garbage disposal. Wrong! Save |
| and that there are no leaks. | | | | yourself headaches by removing them. |
| Step 2. The Drains: Check and test every drain | | | | I also remove dishwashers on low end houses for |
| including: sink drains, bath tub/shower drains, and | | | | the same reasons and you should to. |
| washer machine drain. If you find a clogged or a slow | | | | Step 5. Heating and Cooling: The HVAC system |
| drain than repair using a plumbers snake. Bath tubs, | | | | needs to be inspected and serviced once a year and |
| showers, and bathroom sinks always get clogged | | | | the furnace filter needs to be replaced once a |
| with hair and foreign objects such as tooth paste | | | | month.Accomplishing routine maintenance on this |
| caps. | | | | system will save you big dollars down the road by |
| Step 3. The Toilets: I always rebuild every toilet with | | | | extending the life. |
| a fluidmaster toilet repair kit. I have had great luck | | | | By following this rental property maintenance and |
| with the repair kit and they cost under $25.00 each. | | | | repairs guide you should see a reduction in tenant |
| Toilets are a heavily used item and should be rebuilt | | | | calls. Giving you more free time to spend with your |
| at every vacancy. This will save you from | | | | family. |
| maintenance calls down the road. | | | | |