If you are an Ivins rental property investor who also has some handyman skills, there is a good chance that you can perform a lot of your property maintenance tasks yourself. Although a few property maintenance and repairs are harmless for the do-it-yourself landlord, some of them carry higher risks. With regards to electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. Therefore, even do-it-yourself rental property owners should figure out how to avoid a lot of the hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are several reasons why property owners decide to do their property maintenance and repairs on their own. Sometimes you want to save money by solving the problems yourself. Sometimes you feel happier to know that you have done the job yourself. And other times, you might enjoy doing it. But for plumbing and electrical tasks, it is important to know which repairs you can safely do yourself and when it’s smarter to hire a licensed professional.
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 prevent accidents as long as you follow the proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Still, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Regardless of whether you think that you’ve switched off the power, you may not be right. If you’re not entirely sure about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can result in you electrocuting yourself or cause an electrical fire. In any case, rather than setting aside yourself some cash, you’ve now made new, more critical problems – and there is a chance that you put yourself and your tenants at risk. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
The same applies to plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like changing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Especially if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes it should not take too much effort or expertise.
Though, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. Should your tenant call you in a hurry over a broken pipe, a backed-up drain, or malfunctioning garbage disposal, this is not the time to try and figure out how to fix it yourself. The longer water is flowing unchecked into your rental home, the more damage it will cause. Being a property owner, you have to address urgent plumbing repairs in the most expert, most effective way possible. And as always, that means hiring a plumber who can offer high-quality service.
Regardless if you aren’t facing critical circumstances, sometimes calling an electrician or plumber is still the right decision. Even though it will cost you more than if you did the work yourself, it’s necessary to keep in mind that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for each job, and can finish the work more rapidly and effectively. All things considered, it might be best to hire someone to handle all of the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To avoid the problem of finding a maintenance team, contact the Ivins property management professionals at Real Property Management Southern Utah and get some information about our services.
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