Being a rental property investor comes with many responsibilities, including maintaining the property. If you have handyman skills, you may feel confident managing many of your property maintenance tasks yourself. While several property maintenance and repairs can be done by the do-it-yourself landlord, it’s important to understand the risks associated with electrical and plumbing work. Without professional knowledge, you risk accidentally injuring yourself or making the problem worse. Therefore, even do-it-yourself rental property owners should recognize the hazards of electrical and plumbing work and know when to call the experts.
There are many reasons why property owners take on property maintenance and repairs themselves. It can save money, offer a sense of achievement from having done the work yourself, or simply be an enjoyable task. However, for plumbing and electrical tasks, it’s crucial to know when it’s safe to safely do yourself and when hiring a licensed professional is the smarter option.
Why Electrical Safety Should Be a Priority for Homeowners
When it comes to electricity, the more you know, the safer you are. Simple maintenance tasks like replacing light bulbs, outlets, and breakers can often be completed quickly and safely. You can avoid injuries if you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Nevertheless, all repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry risks. If you aren’t careful, you could easily damage light fixtures, fry appliances, or worse—end up electrocuting yourself or starting an electrical fire. Even if you believe you’ve shut off the power, you might still be wrong.
In the end, trying to save yourself some money could leave you with more expensive problems—and potentially endanger your tenants. That’s why it’s often a wise choice to hire a licensed electrician for even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
When to Call a Plumber for Urgent Rental Property Repairs
Just like electrical repairs, some plumbing repairs are simple enough for do-it-yourselfers. Fixes like replacing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are manageable for most. These types of fixes are typically more of a maintenance task than an emergency and don’t require much expertise.
However, when the situation becomes more severe, such as a broken pipe or a malfunctioning garbage disposal, it’s time to call a professional. If your renter calls you in a panic, don’t waste time trying to figure out the problem on your own. Water damage can escalate quickly, causing extensive harm to your rental home. Addressing urgent plumbing repairs swiftly and professionally is essential, which often means contacting a qualified plumber.
Even in non-urgent situations, hiring a professional is often the best course of action. Although calling a plumber or electrician costs more than doing it yourself, remember that hiring a professional comes with advantages like the right insurance, tools, and faster work.
Even if you aren’t facing an urgent situation, sometimes calling an electrician or plumber is still the right choice. Although it will cost you more than if you did the work yourself, it’s important to remember that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits.
Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for every job, and can complete the work more quickly and efficiently. It might be best to hire someone to handle all the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To avoid the hassle of finding a maintenance team, look no further than Real Property Management Southern Utah for professional services in Ivins and nearby. Contact us online or call 435-673-4242 for more information.
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