Spring is in the air! The snow has melted, temperatures are beginning to rise and trees and flowers are starting to bloom. After a long winter, residents will be eager to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. This means that you and your maintenance team need to make sure your property is in tip-top shape for your residents to enjoy. The cold temperatures, snow and ice during winter can cause damage to your property. Take advantage of the nice weather to do a thorough inspection and make any necessary updates so that your residents will be able to safely enjoy the beauty of the warm weather.
Exterior Tasks
Start by inspecting the exterior. The snow and ice can do serious damage to your landscaping so now is the perfect time to start trimming trees, shaping up bushes, replanting flower beds and topping off soil or re-fertilizing. After you’ve fixed up the landscaping move onto the decks, steps and sidewalks. The dirty winter snow as well as the ice can make these features look grimy. A thorough cleaning makes a huge difference in the appearance of exterior features. A power washer is extremely effective in removing the layers of winter grime. If your property doesn’t own a power washer, you should be able to rent one fairly inexpensively from your local hardware store. Don’t forget to inspect all buildings for any touch up paint that is needed. A fresh coat of paint can completely change the look of any property. Peeling and chipping paint gives the appearance that management doesn’t care about the property and can turn away both current and potential residents. As you’re examining every aspect of the exterior of your community, don’t neglect the windows, doors and trim. Grab a caulk gun and do a quick re-caulk if you see any deterioration around any doors and windows. This helps with heating and cooling costs as well as keeps insects on the outside instead of making their way inside. It is especially important to check all wood trim for signs of damage. Soft, splintered or rotting wood can be a safety disaster for your residents. This should be done before the rainy season as the excess rainfall during the spring can cause even more issues to real wood exteriors. This is also the perfect time replace any torn window screens. Last, but certainly not least, your residents will appreciate safe and well-lit walkways and patios. Keep all sidewalks swept free of debris and ensure that all exterior lights work so that as your residents spend more time outside, there is no safety concern.
Interior Tasks
Exterior maintenance is important but you can’t neglect interior maintenance as well. If you really want to impress your residents, be sure that the interiors of your communities are just as tidy as the exteriors. A good place to start is by having your carpets professionally cleaned. Although this should be a regular occurrence on your maintenance schedule, spring is especially important. If you live in an area that receives snowfall, the mud and salt tracked in from residents can quickly make carpets look dirty. A thorough cleaning will make a big difference. While you’re making calls to carpet cleaning companies, now is a good time to call an exterminator as well. Pests can quickly go from being a nuisance to being destructive. No resident wants to live somewhere they have to worry about pests in their home and it’s best to get ahead of any issues. Don’t forget to check all plumbing fixtures too. Months of cold weather can cause leaks and blockages that you might not be aware of. It’s best to fix these now rather than wait until summer when you’re trying to fill up the pool. An often-overlooked task is draining water heaters. During the winter, sediment can build up in hot water tanks. By draining the sediment, your water heaters will work more efficiently and last longer.
We know this list seems large, but meeting with your maintenance team and prioritizing which tasks need taken care of first and which can wait until later will help you stay on top of your community as well as help decrease resident maintenance calls as well.
