Winterizing your residential property
With the heat of the summer only a few weeks behind us, our focus turns now to the chill of fall. It seems that cooler nights are upon us and many of us are thinking about turning on the heater to take the chill out of the air.
Before the weather turns cooler, it’s a good idea to do a walk around your property to make sure everything is in good working order. Whether it’s your own home or an investment property, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The first order of business would be to make sure your heater is working properly. If you have a central air system, changing the filter should be in order. If you call in a service provider to help you with this task, make sure he or she is reputable. We’ve had a popular company come out to do a simple filter change and service call and ended up giving us a bid for cleaning the system for a price of $1,400. In our experience, that was overkill. Make sure your system is really in need of maintenance by getting more than one estimate to make sure you aren’t throwing money away. Don’t let high-pressure salespeople scare you into making a costly mistake. Remember that maintaining your system can keep your systems running longer and save you thousands of dollars.
If you think your heater may not be safe or if the pilot light has gone out, a call to the gas company might be in order. Remember to call early as they get very busy and might not be able to come out for a few weeks. Also, it is imperative that you have a carbon monoxide alarm in your home, or provide one for each floor of your rental property. Now is the time to make sure you or your tenants are protected.
If you have an air conditioning system and you are sure the summer is over, it would be a good idea to clean any leaves and debris out of the system and cover it for the winter with a cover specifically made for the system, which will allow the unit to breathe while keeping dirt and leaves out.
Next, walk around the house to make sure your gutters are free of debris and the downspouts have adequate drainage space so rainwater flows freely. Make sure there are no holes or repairs in your gutter system that need to be made before the rainy season begins.
When you go inside your home, check to see how the doors and windows are holding up. Are there large gaps around or under any doors that need weather-stripping? Is there any missing caulking around older windows? Making sure your home is weather tight can mean less warm air escaping and less cold air entering your home.
If you want to go the extra mile, check your attic insulation. A lot of heat can be lost through the ceiling and subsequently, the roof. If you have professionals do the job, have them check around the vents and chimneys to make sure there are no leaks where water can intrude. Taking these precautions before an emergency can save you money and stress.
Remember that being proactive is the best way. Once the cold snap arrives, or the rains start to pour, people scramble for help and often times, there is a long waiting period for professionals to arrive. Take some time this weekend to assess your property and get ready for a cozy winter.
Stephanie Wood is a broker and property management specialist with Preferred Property Management and Real Estate in Ventura. Do you have a question regarding rental property as a landlord or tenant? Send questions to stephanie@gowithpreferred.com.