No matter what type of property you are renting out to tenants, you will eventually need to address the issue of repairs and preventative maintenance. Even brand new homes need to have ongoing inspections and repairs. Today, we are talking about how to keep your repair costs down and your tenants happy. When tenants move into your house, give those tenants a form with all the contact information they will need if they have an issue. Your tenants have to know who to call when things break or problems occur. Tell your tenants how to handle emergencies and point out how things work during your first walk through in the property together.
Some things they need to know include:
- Where the water shut off valve is located
- Where the main breaker for the house can be found
- Where the hot water tank is and how it can be turned off if necessary
Introducing your tenants to the function of your house this way will help them feel more secure and it will tell them what to do in case of an emergency. Set up clear expectations for how long repairs will generally take. Have this conversation with your tenants before they move in. Explain how the process will work and let them know what your average response time is. The tenant will want to know these things, and communicating the process will keep everyone on the same page. When a tenant does call with a maintenance need, fill out a work order. This will help you document everything.
Taking a proactive approach to property maintenance will save you time and money in the long term. We always recommend that you create a maintenance checklist and go through it at least twice a year. As you conduct inspections, keep track of warranties and life expectancies. This will help you budget for future replacements and repairs. You won’t have any surprises when an 
appliance or an air conditioning unit starts to wear down and it’s time to replace it.
If you have any questions about repairs and preventative maintenance, please contact us at Cape Shore Property Management, and we’d be happy to help you.
