How we check your portfolio ready for winter
In this blog about how we get your portfolio ready for winter I will be covering:
- 5 maintenance tasks we will be looking out for at our next property visit.
- What you should look out for if you carry out your own home visits.
- What advice you should be giving your tenants to look out for now.
Winter has a habit of coming around very quickly, so preparing ahead of the colder, wetter months is a smart move for those looking to avoid unnecessary maintenance costs in what is already set to be a tough few months for our household finances. Most jobs we find can be planned ahead – that way you are not hit with bills that you were not expecting.
We work on the basis that a stitch in time saves nine – bit old fashioned but it works.
Should the worst happen we work very closely with a small band of contractors and are able to call on them for help at short notice. However, maintaining properties is not about fighting fires – it’s about planning ahead and making sure we get to works before they become an issue.
Here are five elements that we are looking out for in this round of home visits.
Boiler checks
In the last month we have been talking to tenants about checking if the boiler is working. Unfortunately, this is one we have yet to crack since as much as we ask, invariably things are left until last minute. So as heating is switched on we usually get a wave of calls.
Painting of soffits and wooden windows
If this is necessary, we will getting in touch with you via the inspection report to advise. We can then get this planned in for spring.
Brickwork
Once it begins to rain, it is far easier to see outside leaks and damage due to inadequate pointing. Over a period of time, damage to the brickwork can cause water ingress as well as increasing the chances of frost damage. Again we would need to plan any repointing for the spring.
Roofing
Much like brickwork, problems with the roof will materialise at the point the cold and rain weather starts. Missing or cracked tiles are a particularly frequent problem and can lead to further issues. We do not carry out a roof inspection but we do look for signs of leaks inside the house.
Gardens
Not much that we can do in winter, but if your tenants are not looking after the garden, we will advise them to attend to this to avoid giving themselves a bigger job to sort out in the spring or at checkout.
