Keeping up with rental home maintenance requires a lot of time—something not all landlords have to spare. Unfortunately, when maintenance gets overlooked, severe and costly issues can result. Some of the most common types of problems in rental homes (especially older ones) are related to plumbing. If you own a Tucson investment property in the form of a rental home, staying on top of plumbing repairs and other preventative maintenance is a must.
Common Plumbing Problems in Rental Homes
There are a lot of plumbing issues that can arise and lead to serious damage and expensive repair bills. Leaky pipes are among the most common. Even a small leak that goes undetected underneath a sink can lead to rot, mildew, and even dangerous mold growth. Likewise, a running toilet or leaky faucet can wastewater, which will cause your water bills to skyrocket. You may not be as concerned about this if your tenants are footing the water bill, but it’s still a basic maintenance issue you’ll want to address.
A failing water heater is another relatively common plumbing issue. When a water heater springs a leak, the resulting damage can be disastrous. Often, water heater leaks and similar problems can be easily avoided with a routine plumbing inspection and flushing of the water tank itself. This can remove sediment that may otherwise cause rust/corrosion.
If any of your rentals are on a septic system, then a failed sump pump could create a disaster on your property. Unfortunately, many of these plumbing disasters are not covered by standard home insurance. The good news, on the other hand, is that all of these common plumbing issues are avoidable with routine maintenance. An annual plumbing inspection can be performed by a professional. This can alert you to issues that can be quickly and inexpensively repaired before they turn into larger (and more costly) problems.
How a Property Manager Can Help
Most often, plumbing disasters occur in rental homes where landlords are overwhelmed by maintenance responsibilities and feel they have no choice but to cut corners. Are you having trouble keeping up with essential maintenance for your rental properties (including regular inspections and preventative repairs) and in need of a real estate manager? If so, then it may be time to begin working with a property management company.
A property manager will be able to supervise and coordinate maintenance throughout a rental home to ensure that it stays in tip-top shape, thus retaining its income potential and optimizing tenant satisfaction. From scheduling regular inspections and overseeing preventative repairs, your property management team can save you time and ultimately save you money related to handling a plumbing disaster. Also, of course, this is just one of the many services a property manager has to offer.
For more than forty years, Bancroft & Associates has been offering property management for rental homes and real estate brokerage services in Tucson and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to find out more about what we can do for you.