Preparing Your San Ramon Property for Summer: Essential Maintenance Checklist

 

It’s time to think about outdoor picnics, breezy beach days, and warmer evenings. 

 

Summer. We mean it’s time to think about summer. 

 

And while the season usually evokes enjoyable memories of summer vacations and longer days, there’s also the maintenance on your San Ramon rental property to think about. Is your investment property prepared for higher temperatures and extra sunshine? 

 

Our climate is pretty temperate all year long. We don’t have to worry about weather extremes, but the approaching summer season is a great time to be thinking about preventative maintenance. Here are some of the things we recommend that you include on your checklist as you plan your inspections, service calls, and cleanings. 

Summer Landscaping and Curb Appeal for San Ramon Rentals

 

It’s a good idea to evaluate your landscaping and curb appeal before summer arrives. 

 

Schedule regular lawn maintenance for your rental property so you can be sure your outdoor space looks inviting, healthy, and attractive. The way you handle this will depend on how your lease agreement sets forth the lawn and garden responsibilities. If your residents are responsible for the lawn and the landscaping, check in with them before the season starts. Make sure they have a plan for summer mowing and upkeep. 

 

Consider a professional service, even if your lease appoints your residents as caretakers of the landscaping. You can hire a landscaping or lawn care company to begin the process of getting your outdoor space ready for summer. You can have professionals take care of the mowing and the weeding once spring arrives and moves into summer. When you get on a regular service plan, it won’t be too expensive, and you can include the cost in the rent when you’re setting your rental price. 

 

The amount of work required will depend on your property. Whether you have a large yard, a small courtyard, or just a little bit of grass outside of a condo unit, summer is when you really notice the state of your lawn, your landscaping, and your entire outdoor space. Invest in keeping things looking good. This will help your strategy for attracting and retaining good tenants. 

 

Summer is a great time to invest in your curb appeal. 

 

With landscaping comes irrigation. Sprinklers will need your attention in the summer months. They’ll get a lot of use, especially if you water your yard daily. Make sure you’re attentive to any water restrictions that might be in place during droughts. Look for and repair leaks in your irrigation system or rusty spots that can lead to further deterioration or breakdowns. 

 

Power Washing for a Summer-Ready Rental Home in Danville

 

Now that summer is here, consider power washing the exterior of your rental property to give it a fresh, new look. Your tenants will appreciate that the building or the home looks newer and cleaner. This does not take a lot of time and it does not cost a lot of money, especially if you have access to a power washing machine. You can also hire a company to do it in a matter of hours. Power wash the driveway, the walkway, and anything else surrounding your property that can use a good scrubbing. You’ll be astonished at what a difference it makes.

 

Service the HVAC System in Your San Ramon Rental Property

 

Air conditioning isn’t always a given in San Ramon rental properties, but if you do provide it, you want to make sure it’s functional for the warmer months. Have the entire HVAC system inspected and serviced so you know that the cooling function is working the way it should and the air quality in your rental home will be comfortable and healthy for your residents. 

 

Schedule an HVAC technician to check the compressor, the heating system, and the ventilation as well. Make sure the tenants know how often to change the air filters. Your heating and cooling system is probably one of the most expensive systems in your property. You want to maintain it so you can avoid expensive repairs and replacements.

 

Seasonal Fire Safety 

 

We are always thinking about the threat of wildfires. If you have not already implemented a plan to keep your property and your tenants as safe as possible in the event of a wildfire, you’ll want to do that now. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District has some great resources on their website that can help you prepare your property. 

 

Outside of the wildfire threat, we can tell you that fires at residential properties are more common during the summer months, which is why checking your safety systems and emergency plans should be part of your seasonal summer maintenance checklist. 

 

Make sure all your fire extinguishers are up to date in multi-family properties and single-family homes. Post your evacuation plan in every unit. Put together an emergency plan and make sure all of your fire prevention systems are working. Check smoke detectors and sprinkler systems. 

 

Electrical installations should be up to date and functional. It’s easy to ignore minor problems. Those outlets that don’t work or that light that never really turns on can seem like minor annoyances and nothing more. But, they could potentially lead to larger problems. 

 

It’s a good time to clean the dust and lint out of the dryer as well. Provide tenants with their own checklist of summer maintenance items that will help them enjoy more energy efficiency and lower electric bills.

 

Our final checklist item is this: check in with your residents as summer arrives. It’s a good opportunity to find out if any minor repairs or replacements are needed. Make sure the thermostat works well and do an audit of insulation. Is cool air escaping? If so, seal up the doors and windows.

 

It seems like there’s a lot to maintain – in the summer and all year long. If you’d like some professional help with your investment property, we’re happy to provide it. 

 

Please contact us at Windsor Pacific Property Management if you have any questions about preparing for summer maintenance, or if you need help with San Ramon property management. We serve San Ramon, Danville, Dublin, Pleasanton, and surrounding areas.