If you are a landlord in Los Angeles and you are not making use of a top Los Angeles property management company, you will need to at least know some basic home repair tasks.
When you are working with a top Los Angeles property management company, you will enjoy peace of mind and you won’t need to worry about certain home repair tasks. However, if you decide to do it on your own, it is extremely important you learn how to do certain repairs. This will help you to save money.
If you are not interested in doing these home repair tasks yourself, that would be great. However, you will be able to save a lot of money when you do these tasks on your own. Besides, you may not always be able to get good vendors to take care of your home repair tasks except if you have them on your payroll.
Below, we have listed 7 basic home repair tasks every landlord should know:
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Electrical Switch
Sometimes, flickering light may not need a professional attention. It could be a little problem that you can handle on your own. In most cases, just tightening a loose connection or changing the device is all you need to get everything back in working condition. This task will take you about 20 minutes or less.
Some of the tools you will need for this task include wire splicing tool, voltage tester, multidriver, and pliers.
- Basic Plumbing
Faucet leaks are a normal occurrence. When this occurs, you don’t need a plumber to come before you can tackle it. It is a problem that demands urgent attention.
Moreover, learning how to fix basic plumbing problem can save you a lot of money. You can save as much as $125 on a service call by learning to how to fix basic plumbing problems. Moreover, there are tons of videos on YouTube that can help you master this.
Some of the tools you will need include slip-lock pliers, sink auger, toilet auger, multidriver, and a bell-shaped toilet plunger.
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HVAC Maintenance
Learning to do basic HVAC maintenance can save you hundreds of dollars in maintenance fee. When your heating or cooling system is broken, you will need the service of a professional.
However, by doing basic maintenance such as changing filters regularly, lubricating fan motors, and cleaning refrigeration coils will keep your HVAC working for a long period of time without breaking down.
Tools you will need for this task include a Crescent wrench, pliers, and multidriver.
- Pest Control
When you leave your home in an unsanitary condition, you will have insects and rodents everywhere. It is the both the landlord’s and the tenant’s responsibility to take care of the home’s sanitation.
If you are working with a top Los Angeles Property management company, they will probably help you with this problem. However, when you are taking care of your property on your own, you will need to make research to find out ways you can eradicate pests from your home and keep them from coming back.
Protecting your home from pest will save hundreds of dollars in maintenance. Schedule periodical pest maintenance by calling professional exterminators; this will save you from doing unnecessary repairs due to pest damages.
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Appliance Troubleshooting
Sometime, you may have a problem with washing machines, refrigerators, dryers and other major appliances in your property. In most cases, this could be as a result of a blown fuse or internal obstruction.
Before you call for the service of a licensed electrician, you will need to do basic troubleshooting to see if you can fix this problem. A great way to do troubleshooting is to get your appliance manual and go through it. Fixing simple appliance problem could save you a lot of money.
- Painting
Being a landlord gives you an opportunity to hone your painting skills. This skill is not too hard. However, it still requires some learning. Don’t go practicing with important areas of the house.
Learn first, and then you can practice with the garage walls or other walls that are less noticeable. Learning this skill can save you up to $400 per room.
- Basic Roof and Gutter Maintenance/Repair
There are times you will need to climb the roof to get rid of leaves and other unwanted objects. If you are not afraid of height, you can be able to save a lot of money when you do basic roof maintenance as well as repairs.
If you are up to it, you can fix minor leaks on the roof. When you call a handyman to help you with such task, he can charge you as much as $200.
Conclusion
A great way to take care of your property is to work with a top Los Angeles property management company. This way, you will have a peace of mind while you can sit down and enjoy your rental profit every month. However, if you decide to manage your home, you will need to ensure you know these basic maintenances suggested above.
