Persistent heavy rain over the winter season in the last few years has caused headaches for many property investors, with flooding, mould, falling trees and other hazards becoming far more common than usual. Now, with winter well and truly upon us, we’re entering the traditional time for property maintenance with no end in sight to the wild weather. With that in mind, here’s what we think investors need to know about maintaining your property this winter.
1. Conduct a proper inspection
Often no one will notice signs of wear and tear until it’s too late. And many properties have experienced more wear and tear over the past six months than they’d usually experience in six years. If you haven’t had a professional maintenance inspection for a while, you should book one as soon as you can.
2. Carry out some proper maintenance
Those annoying jobs like checking the roof, cleaning the gutters - and cleaning the pool if you have one - can save a lot of money in the long run, especially if we experience more heavy rain and adverse weather events.
3. Sort out the heating
If your property has heating of any kind - whether gas, reverse cycle air conditioning or an open fireplace - now is the time to get it checked. After all, most problems only get noticed when someone starts using the heating system again - and by then it’s too late.
4. Trim those trees
Falling branches can be a real hazard in strong winds and heavy rains - both to your tenants and to your property.
5. Identify and eliminate any mould
Most properties have had some level of mould build up over the past six months - and that’s only going to get worse as the weather turns colder. Mould is a health risk. If it sets in it can also be tough to remove and even affect the value of your property.
6. Call on the professionals
Of course, we can take care of all these things and more for our clients. If you have any questions or you’d like to book an inspection and maintenance for your property, get in touch.
Want more?
If you’d like to know more about the current state of the rental market, get in touch with your portfolio partner or call The Agency head office on (02) 8376 9100 to assist.