Spring is the season of revival. And for landlords, spring is the best season to get all those crucial cleaning and maintenance tasks accomplished. While West Borough rental homes need maintenance year-round, spring presents a unique opportunity to check your properties for a few specific things. Although spring cleaning and maintenance can seem to be like an endless array of tasks, these things cannot be left unperformed.
Season-specific cleaning and maintenance items can involve either the interior or exterior of your rental homes – or both. But spring is the ideal season to do many of these exterior tasks because many of them would be difficult to perform in the winter weather. There are also some spring tasks specifically done to check for damage caused by either the winter storms or the freezing temperatures. For example, it’s important to examine concrete areas each year, including foundation, driveway, walkways, patios, and more, for new cracks or gaps. Windows and doors, too, need to be checked for cracks and gaps (including weather-stripping) and repaired or replaced. Window and door screens accumulate a lot of dirt and debris in the winter, making spring the most excellent time to clean them. The roof should be checked for loose, missing, or damaged materials, and any leaves or debris cleared out of the gutters and downspouts.
Together with the big items, don’t forget to check on smaller features too. Exterior door hardware should be checked, and squeaky hinges or broken locks repaired or replaced. Some touch-ups might be needed for the exterior trim, and exterior wood elements should be examined to see if they need to be refinished or sealed. And don’t ignore the outdoor light fixtures – you may have to change some of the bulbs.
When planning your spring cleaning, be sure to include the needs of the yard as well. Sprinkler systems and outdoor faucets should be tested and turned on if winterized. Dead leaves and branches may be all over the grounds because of the winter, so a general clean-up may be required as soon as spring arrives. Spring is also the ideal time to fertilize lawns, trees, and other vegetation.
Moving a bit further, spring is the ideal time to check perimeter fences and freestanding mailboxes. Broken fence slats will need to be replaced, and wobbly or failing posts repaired. Gate hardware should be examined for rust or other issues and repaired as needed. Finally, spring is a great time to check on the home’s garbage cans and see what state they are in. If the lids don’t fit properly or holes have begun to appear, it may be time to look for replacements.
This is, believe it or not, just a starting point for a thorough spring cleaning & maintenance list. Since there are a lot of tasks that need to be performed, it would be wise to have a team of professionals come in and handle the process for you. When you hire Real Property Management Metro West-Worcester, you won’t need to be anxious about spring maintenance. We will make it a point that seasonal tasks will be completed thoroughly and promptly. If you are interested in working with Real Property Management Metro West-Worcester or still have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 508-329-6000.
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