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The Preventative Maintenance Checklist for All San Francisco Landlords
October 1, 2021
How to Avoid Expensive Emergency Repairs
Renting out a San Francisco property means being ready for the unexpected; whether it’s a leak below the kitchen sink or an appliance that’s outlived its use. Responding to routine and emergency maintenance requests from your tenants comes with the territory.
Those unexpected emergencies can get expensive, however. They’re also disruptive and frustrating for both owners and tenants.
The best way to avoid expensive emergencies? We’ve found it’s a good preventative maintenance plan. Here are some of the things we recommend.
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SAVES MONEY
We know that maintenance costs are rising, and one good way to get out ahead of those climbing costs is with a preventative maintenance plan. You’ll save money on emergencies, increase tenant retention, and preserve the condition of your San Francisco investment property.
1. START WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM
Our climate has always been pretty mild, but lately we’ve had ridiculously cold winter days and some real scorchers in the summer. Your tenants are using both the heat and the air conditioning, and that means your system has to be functional and efficient. It’s one of the most important and expensive parts of your property - you need reliability.
By contracting with a local HVAC technician, you can have your unit inspected and serviced annually. This may cost a couple hundred dollars, but it will save you thousands on having to replace a furnace or an air conditioning unit prematurely.
2. DON’T PUT OFF THE PLUMBING PROBLEMS
A dripping faucet or a toilet that’s flushing funny is easy to put off. These don’t seem like urgent repairs. However, the longer you leave a leaking pipe, the bigger the plumbing emergency is likely to be in a week or a month.
Don’t invite larger and more expensive disasters. Take care of plumbing issues right away. When your tenants report that something is wet, discolored, leaking, or dripping - get a plumber out there right away. When you’re
inspecting the property during tenant turnovers, always check under sinks and behind toilets. Keep the caulking around tubs and tiles fresh.
Water problems left unattended can lead to rot and mold, which will only increase what you have to spend to make the necessary repairs and replacements. Always be proactive and preventative when it comes to water in your San Francisco rental property.
3. REPLACING VS. REPAIRING YOUR RENTAL HOME APPLIANCES
Upgrading your appliances is a great way to
attract better tenants, retain your current tenants, and increase your rental value.
It’s also a good part of preventative maintenance. Instead of repairing the dishwasher or the refrigerator every time there’s a problem, know when to replace it instead. Energy efficient appliances are going to perform better than the older models, and you’ll have fewer repair calls from tenants.
Train and Educate your Tenants on Preventative Maintenance
Protecting the condition of your property takes a combined effort from owners, tenants, and property managers. Make sure your residents know you want all maintenance issues reported right away. Don’t let any repairs get deferred or unreported.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
The best way to take care of preventative maintenance is by working with a
San Francisco property management company. At BanCal Property Management, we’ve been maintaining rental investments since 1987. We can make sure your property is in great shape, and we’ll save you money while we’re doing it.
Author - Tammy McNaught
A tenant move-out can be one of the most challenging parts of managing a rental property. There are keys to collect, inspections to complete, potential repairs to identify, security deposits to process, and a new tenant to prepare for. When expectations are unclear or important steps are left until the last minute, even a relatively straightforward move-out can become unnecessarily complicated. The good news is that many common move-out issues can be reduced with a clear, consistent process. For San Francisco landlords, a well-managed move-out is about more than ending one tenancy. It can help protect the condition of the property, reduce disputes, streamline turnover, and prepare the unit for its next resident. Here are five ways landlords can create a smoother move-out process.
Finding the right tenant is an important part of protecting a rental property, but not every strong applicant will meet every screening requirement on their own. An applicant may have limited credit history, insufficient income, or other financial circumstances that make it difficult to qualify. In these situations, a qualified co-signer or guarantor can provide an additional layer of financial protection while allowing an otherwise suitable applicant to secure housing. For landlords, however, accepting a co-signer or guarantor should involve more than adding another signature to the paperwork. Understanding the difference between the two, carefully screening the individual, and establishing consistent qualification criteria can help landlords make more informed leasing decisions.
Verify rent-control status, lawful base rent, banked increases, licenses and deposits before you buy or take over an SF building. Step-by-step checklist.
San Francisco owners must report to the Rent Board Housing Inventory by March 1 and hold a rent increase license before any annual or banked increase.
