As the owner of a property that you live in or rent out to other people for income, you are responsible for its current upkeep. Not only that but you will also be required to keep the property in good shape for as long as you will own it. Not only are there community and local rules about the maintenance of a property, but a poorly maintained property is bound to cause you a lot of heartache and grief, especially if the property breaks down or causes injury to someone. You could soon be facing a lawsuit with hefty damages to pay the person or people who have been injured or suffered loss as a result of your failure to maintain your property. The current and future value of your property is also at stake. The following are some of the tips that will help you stay ahead of any future losses:
1) Make sure that all the wood has been painted
It is important to ensure that all the wood that has been used to build the property has been sealed and painted over correctly so as to avoid the wood from rotting or becoming soft. When this happens, the wood could give way or become a target for termites. That would mean that you would be in for some costly repairs that could have been avoided if you simply kept your wood painted properly.
2) Check on the state of the windows
It is also important to check all the windows and ensure that they are in good shape. Broken windows will need a window repair specialist who will give your property a professional window service. Dilapidated window frames with holes and poor-quality glass will only serve to lower the aesthetic quality of the house. Air and water leaks from rain can cause expensive damage to other parts of the house. When you get a chance to renovate the home, do not forget to pay extra attention to the windows. Adding better insulated and tougher window frames and sliding glass doors will go a long way in driving up the value of the property – something that will be beneficial in future deals involving the property.
3) Ensure the doors and the walls of the property are in good shape
Doors should also be taken care of with the same level of intensity and diligence as the rest of the other maintenance tasks of your property. Door repair should be a top priority in all your plans, and if it is necessary a door service professional can come to the house and do the repairs for you. Not only your safety is at stake, but protecting the inside of your home from the elements should always be something important on your list.
4) Carry out routine inspections around the property
It is also your duty as the owner of the property to duly inspect the surrounding area that is part of the property to ensure that there is nothing that could harm innocent visitors and passers-by. Dead and fallen branches should be collected and disposed of. Big holes in the ground should be covered up so as to avoid a scenario where someone would end up tripping and badly injuring themselves entering or leaving your property.
It may sound obvious but sometimes it’s easy to overlook things that we see every day. Best to put on your inspector hat one day each month and look for problems that you may otherwise overlook.