Maintenance Checklist For Renting Out Your Home
Renting out your home or an extra property you own can be a great way to bring in some extra cash while paying off your mortgage or simply getting the most out of your investment.
Make Sure That All Areas of Your House Are Safe, Functioning, and up to Standards
If you’re considering renting out your home in Utah’s Dixie, follow this checklist of things to review before adding your property to a listing for homes for rent in Utah.
Paint and Carpet
Paint and carpet are the basics that need to be considered before renting out any house. Walls should be freshly painted if there are any marks or scratches, and carpet should be cleaned or even replaced if needed. This is a good step to take too because it quickly boost the house’s value, allowing you to charge a bit more for rent to cover the costs of making it look like new.
Appliances
Any appliances that are provided should be in good working order. This includes dishwashers, washers and dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, and ovens. Additionally, these should be cleaned as best as possible.
Smoke Detectors
All smoke detectors must be checked for functionality and batteries should be replaced before the new tenants move in. Smoke detectors are perhaps the most important safety feature in a house and must be in good working order before the house is rented out.
Garage Doors
Sometimes they have trouble functioning or stop functioning due to a lack of proper maintenance for the opening mechanism or because the garage door isn’t used. Garage doors should be able to open and close completely, and there must be a safety mechanism in place for the door to open immediately if anything crosses underneath it while it is closing. If the garage door can be controlled with a remote device, as most modern garages can, at least one device, but preferably two if the garage is a two-door, must be supplied to the tenants with new batteries before move-in.
Locks and Alarm Systems
Keeping a home secure is an absolute must, as locks and alarm systems keep people safe from burglaries and break-ins. All entrances to the house should ideally have two functioning locks: one for the doorknob and one for the deadbolt. If the house comes equipped with an alarm system, or if prospective tenants inquire about it and ask for one, the system should be enabled and the tenants should be provided with information about how to engage and control the system for their needs.
Plumbing
Plumbing can be a landlord’s nightmare, so it’s best to keep regular tabs on it and especially make sure that everything is working well before putting the house up for rent. Check pipes for corrosion or leaks and make sure that all faucets, shower heads, and toilets work well. If the house comes equipped with a water boiler, it’s important to check this system as well, as the last phone call a landlord wants to receive is from a tenant at night in the dead of winter saying that the boiler is busted.
Heating and Cooling
HVAC systems are complex and expensive to fix, and it’s important to make sure that they work well before a tenant moves in. Start by ensuring that the thermostat works appropriately by changing the controls to different temperature settings. If there are any signs of problems, or if the system is older and hasn’t been looked at for years, it can be a good idea to contact a professional to come and do a quick checkup and to provide recommendations on any parts that need changing or any maintenance that needs to be done.
