Summer is here and as a landlord, you’re going to want to make sure your property is ready. It’s especially important to start early on summer projects, as no one wants to do strenuous physical labor once the weather gets too hot. However, if you get these tasks taken care of, you can sit back and relax, knowing you have happy tenants in your summer-ready property.
Power Wash the Building & Walkways
Power washing is a great thing to do at the beginning of summer for a number of reasons. You’re washing off the dirt and grime that’s been caked on throughout the winter that the spring rains might not have rinsed off. The pollen that’s been clinging to the sides of the building will be washed away, reducing potential allergy issues. The summer heat will dry the building quickly.
You should also power wash the curbs and walkways of your property. This will prevent weeds from growing through the cracks, allow you to make repairs more easily, and just overall give it a cleaner appearance.
Install Air Conditioners
Some landlords leave air conditioning units in their tenants’ windows year-round, but some prefer to remove them for the winter and reinstall them once the hot weather returns. If you’re such a landlord, then you’ll want to get on that now. Heat waves have become more common due to climate change, and if your AC units need new filters or replacement parts, you’ll want to get that taken care of before your tenants are left sweating and miserable.
Landscaping & Lawn Care
Having landscaping done drastically improves your property’s curb appeal. You want this because it will entice new tenants to rent from you and keep your current ones happy and loyal. Planting flowers is an easy way to improve your property’s curb appeal and bring a smile to your tenants’ faces. Be sure to do a little research on which flowers will do best in New England summers and whether they’ll need any further maintenance, like dead-heading, before planting, but otherwise have fun picking out beautiful flowers to plant on your property.
Mowing the lawn is something that should be done every few weeks or so, especially during hot summer months, but it instantly makes a huge difference. This simple task makes the lawn look more inviting and neater. However, be sure not to cut it too short, especially during drought. On the other hand, you shouldn’t let your grass get too long, either, as that will make your lawn a potential home for ticks, which have seen an increase in population in Massachusetts during recent years.
Open the Pool
If your property has a pool, it’s time to open it and get it cleaned and ready. As Massachusetts has a relatively short pool season, you’ll want to open it as soon as the weather permits so tenants can make the most of it. This means clearing out debris, treating the water, and checking the filters.
Take care of these simple summer maintenance tasks and you’ll have happy tenants for years to come. So get out the lawn mower, pick out some flowers, and get to work. Afterwards you can kick back with a glass of lemonade as your renters tell you how great of a job you’ve done.