A Landlord’s Spring Cleaning To-Do List

Spring Cleaning your Rental Property

Some things to remember for your Spring inspection of your Rental.

The sun is shining a little longer after you get home these days, and you’re starting to notice those cobwebs you didn’t see all winter, and that the closet has really gotten away from you. It’s time to binge Marie Kondo & get some Spring cleaning done.

But don’t forget your rental property. When you’ve tackled your own projects, make sure to get to your rental and inspect the damages of Winter.

Give your tenants 2 days’ notice, and inspect the property, don’t forget these three things to look for.

Inside

Filters:

Unless you know what you’re doing, send out an HVAC company to check on the furnace filters and ventilation systems in your house. It’s an important step to reduce dust and build up and prevent fires. Don’t forget your AC units, make sure to change the filter & spray the outside of the condenser with a hose (not a pressure washer).

Vents:

Put a piece of toilet paper to all your fans and vents to make sure they’re working properly.

Drains:

While you’re at it, inspect your washer and dryers and sinks and all things that drain.

Check the walls and floors for signs of leakage or build up in the utility room or wherever you store the washer/dryer.

Run the water in sinks and tubs/showers for 30 seconds to a full minute, make sure they’re draining properly. Check your dishwasher drain and make sure it’s free of debris.

Outside

Look Down:

Make a day of it with your green thumb, or send a professional out to clear the debris, refresh the top soil, rake the lingering leaves, and tear up those weeds and dead plants that aren’t coming back. Scrub the moss away from your patio and driveway, that will be a slip hazard in the rain.

Look Up:

Don’t forget the gutters! Clogged gutters will cause water to seep into your basement, especially if you have any windows below the ground level.

Getting help:

The earlier the better, you’ll want to get that professional scheduled earlier rather than later as their scheduled tend to fill up fast this time of year.

Landscapers pricing will depend on the size of the yard/garden area and the amount of work it needs. Expect to meet with them for a quote before they start work, or ask if you can send them photos for an estimate.

Mold

Inspect for mold that your tenants might not notice.

Check your crawl space to make sure that the plastic sheet is still covering the dirt and that there aren’t any leaks or wet marks. If your pipes typically freeze, or froze this winter, examine those while you’re at it.

Examine the window sills and tracks for any sign of mold – this is usually a tenant responsibility to clean but check your lease before asking them to tend to it.

Open and smell the washer – have the tenants run a cleaning cycle with a little bleach to get rid of any mildew smell.

Make sure to peak under the sinks and around toilets and faucets to leaking pipes, new and serious water damage. Water damage under the sink is normal wear and tear, but anything more severe could point to a larger problem that needs to be addressed.

What else do you look for when you annually inspect your investment? Do you have any other spring cleaning tips? Let us know in the comments section!