When it comes to property management, there’s a lot to consider. Condos are individual units that come with all sorts of unexpected challenges. Condominium owners are usually required to pay for all maintenance and repair requirements whereas the repair and maintenance in the common premises are generally taken care of by the Condo Board.
When it comes to the individual condo unit, there are many raised expectations. So here are a 16 maintenance tips that can essentially help you step up your property management game:
1. Figure out the Inspection Days
You can develop an inspection calendar to make sure you don’t experience any oversight over little things like the fire sprinkler. In order to avoid fines, complete all the necessary inspections on time, which are required by state and local codes. With periodical checking, you can eliminate any potential look-over. Get your appliances and installations checked properly when it comes to it.
2. Make Sure You Take a Preventive Approach
If you want to avoid major problems and expensive damage repairs, it is best to follow a preventive approach. This will allow you to keep an eye on the building systems starting from HVAC to the electric systems and plumbing.
This also includes the carpets and flooring details. It’s better to perform regular check-ups to make sure the life span of the condo unit is expanded.
Working systems in the condo should be your top priority, too. Moreover, these factors are important to the residents as well as the board of the condo. You will have to pay for the damages in case an appliance fails to work with a hold on daily life.
The rule is to maintain and repair, and if necessary to replace. With proper care and attention, you might be able to make certain appliances and systems last a lifetime. You won’t have to face any surprises, such as sudden breakdowns.
Condominium maintenance is much more cost-effective than having things completely replaced. Furthermore, proactive property management will save you a lot of time, effort, and money further down the line. It’s especially important when you can’t afford any of your appliances to completely break down in the future.
3. Resolve Problems as They Appear
Here’s another maintenance tip: Proper rules and regulations are there to ensure property maintenance within the condo unit is executed accordingly. It’s essential that condo owners adhere to those rules without creating a wreck or causing a disturbance during maintenance runs. In order to prevent potential problems, communication is very important, especially if condo owners are put in a position to resolve any kind of dispute.
4. Make Sure the Vents Are Working Properly
One of the major problems of property management is the blocking of vents or clogging issues. This pertains to dryer vents in particular because they can pose a fire threat too. With regular and proper vent checks, you can ensure that they are clean and clear without any problem. This includes the interior and exterior parts of the building.
5. Preserve the Carpeting
The carpeting inside condo buildings is prone to a lot of movement and damage. Indeed, it can cause many complaints from residents. With the help of regular vacuuming, you can keep the dirt and dust from rising up. You can essentially deep clean the carpet on a monthly basis. This will also help ensure that the carpets look fresh and vibrant, while also preventing any kind of permanent damage.
You can also watch this video by Youtuber Denise on cleaning carpets.
6. Focus on Security
Another important maintenance tip is to protect the residents from any cases of theft or vandalism. Make sure that areas like parking lots or garages are properly-lit and monitored. Furthermore, ensure that all the exterior doors and common areas are locked properly and securely. Condo owners would also do well to invest in better security and thus avoid facing any unusual problems in the long run.
7. Clean Pipes on a Regular Basis
Whenever we are talking about preventive measures, cleaning and plumbing is something that should always be first on the list. Make sure that you have a professional come visit and regularly clean all the major drains and sewer lines. This will essentially help in reducing the risk of clogs and backed up drains. Your wallet will be happy if you avoid any drainage problems in the condo units.
8. Regular Checkups on HVAC Systems
HVAC system breakdowns can cause a lot of trouble, especially in hotter and colder months. Furthermore, without any preventive measures, they will most likely require a lot of money to fix. (1)
Therefore, it’s essential that you check up on the filters regularly. This can be done on the basis of each seasonal change. It’s best to avoid a meltdown by conducting a thorough checkup.
Ventilation is another major factor to consider during maintenance. Condo owners should make sure that the vents are clean and clear of dust and other kinds of debris. Regularly airing out the interior by opening a window or two when the weather is good has its health benefits since it prevents mold growth and the diseases associated with it.
With a good method of ventilation, you can maintain the health of the building and its residents. Furthermore, you can keep the dusting to a minimum level by sweeping up whenever it’s required.
9. Look for the Cracks
Along with monitoring and conducting regular check-ups on things like draining and other appliance settings, it’s also important to check for problems like cracks appearing on sidewalks or even in parking lots. The uneven surfaces need to be repaired as soon as possible to avoid any future confrontation with the cracks.
10. Bring out a Fresh Image
The appearance of the condo is also an important thing to consider when it comes to property management.
Try adding paintings, color, heck even a whole new landscape to make the interior more elegant. There are many cost-effective ways to give a new, appealing look to the building.
Be doubly sure of your color choices when planning on doing a fresh paint job. There is a specific SKU number on the paint label that you purchase, or you can get the information from the hardware store that you bought the colors from.
11. Keep the Pests Away
Addressing the moisture and trash problems in the condo is also important. This will help you to keep pests away from the condo building, as well as unnecessary trash from piling up. You can seek professional help in order to deal with the pests, be it annually or when it is time for seasonal cleaning sessions.
There are also simple steps that you can do inside your home to prevent pests from destroying it, such as taking the trash out daily and cleaning up leftovers in the kitchen on time. (2)
12. Be Prepared for Emergencies
This maintenance tip is vital: be prepared for any emergency situations. You should have a detailed plan. Starting from fires to natural disasters, everything needs to be covered. You should always be prepared for a scenario like that. This includes communicating with different condo owners and residents in case you need special assistance.
You can watch this video below to learn more about disaster preparedness.
13. Circuit Breakers
Even if you are not an electrician, you should have a plan ready in case a circuit breaks in your household. There are many standard switches in new condo units. When a circuit breaker trips, you have to turn it off before switching it on again.
14. Door Hinges
You can purchase some silicone lubricant to ensure that the door creaking doesn’t bother you anymore. It’s an issue that affects many homes. You can simply remove the hinge pins and apply the solution to re-insert it. You don’t have to remove all the hinges at once. It’s better not to use lubricants which may pile up extra dust or even dirt.
15. Check up on Appliances
Regularly checking on the appliances in your house will take a load off your back in the future. Starting from your supply lines to the washer and dryer, these checkups can help you prevent a lot of water damage.
The same goes for the refrigerator and deep freezes as well as many other major kitchen and bathroom appliances. With a periodic checkup or inspection, you’ll be better prepared for anything that comes your way.
16. Furniture Pads
Last maintenance tip: if you want to avoid scratched hardwood floors, you can take preventive measures. Investing in furniture pads is a great way to do that. You can fix them up on the furniture legs. These are available in almost every hardware store it’s not that expensive either and could help you save a lot in the long run.
Condo Maintenance: Final Thoughts
Condo property management doesn’t need to cause you a lot of pain. All you need is a detailed plan and record of your inspections and regular checkups.
Keep a tab on the home appliances and take up varied preventive measures which will help you save on maintenance costs. With a diligent and proactive mindset, condo owners can easily manage their troubles away.
If you have any further questions, contact the Precondo team. We’ll be happy to help you out.
References:
1. Florida Solar Energy Center, HVAC Systems, retrieved from http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/buildings/commercial/hvac.htm
2. Alina Bradford, How to keep pests out of your home, retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-keep-bed-bugs-and-other-nasty-pests-out-of-your-home/
