To hear more about our preventative maintenance services, please contact us. We also welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions about this topic or any area you’d like us to talk about. Please share those, too. We want to know how maintaining your home has been a challenge.
The Preventative Maintenance Checklist for All San Francisco Landlords
BanCal Property Management • 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.
Owning multifamily property in San Francisco comes with a strong upside. It also comes with a long list of exposures that can erode that upside quickly if the wrong thing happens and the right coverage is not in place. Insurance is not the most exciting part of property ownership, but it is one of the most consequential. Getting it wrong does not show up until something goes wrong, and by then the cost of the gap is already set. Here is what a well-structured multifamily insurance program actually looks like and where San Francisco owners most commonly fall short.
This is a subtitle for your new pSecurity deposit disputes are one of the most common ways landlords end up in small claims court, and most of the time it is not because a landlord acted in bad faith. It is because the paperwork was not done correctly, the deadline was missed, or a fee was labeled the wrong way. In California, the rules are specific and the penalties for getting them wrong are automatic. Here is what every San Francisco property owner needs to know.
BanCal Properties has provided landlords with a guide of 8 tips for getting a property ready for rent.
BanCal Properties has provided landlords with a guide on how to keep renters happy.
