When it comes to being a landlord, know this: rental property repairs in Antioch are a big deal. Unfortunately, 45% of property owners in the US feel that emergency repairs and preventative maintenance are their top source of stress.
This is no surprise though. Owning a rental property is a lot of work. Between tenant screening, rent collection, property inspections, and paperwork, it can be tough to keep up. Add in complicated maintenance and repairs, with no idea who to turn to for help, and you might find yourself at a loss.
If you’re ready to take a proactive approach to property repairs, keep reading. We’ve got a list of the most important repairs you should know how to do for your rental, so you can save yourself some time and money.
COMMON RENTAL REPAIRS IN ANTIOCH YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO
1. WATER LEAKS UNDER THE SINK
Water leaks, even the smallest ones, have the potential to wreak havoc on your property. After all, a water leak left unchecked can damage the structure of your property and even cause mold.
One common issue that tenants run into while leasing a rental is water leaking underneath the sink. Luckily, this is typically just the drain pipe not fitting together the right way. This is easy to fix on your own, even if you need the help of YouTube.
For major water leaks, it’s important you at least know how to turn the water off to your entire rental property. This way you don’t destroy your entire rental waiting for the repair professionals to come.
2. PLUMBING ISSUES
Another thing that many landlords don’t know how to do, and waste money having fixed by a professional are plumbing issues. Toilet and drain clogs always seem to happen after hours. This can be a nightmare for a property owner that has no clue how to fix them. But with a few common tools and a little bit of knowledge about how drains work, you can have that drain or toilet working again in no time.
3. SMOKE DETECTORS
According to California law, all residential properties must have a smoke detector. They are usually placed in all bedrooms and hallways. Plus, they need to be on every level of the property as well.
As the owner of an Antioch rental property, it’s your responsibility to install functioning smoke detectors in the property. A smoke detector that doesn’t work or has low batteries is not going to be effective at protecting your tenants. One telltale sign that your property’s smoke detector is getting ready to die is the chirping sound it makes.
Make sure to hand over the responsibility to your tenants once they move in. Either that or make it clear that once they hear the chirping noise, they are to contact you or your property management company right away.
4. NO HOT WATER
Water heaters can be a beast to fix if it’s something serious. If this is the case, you’re better off hiring a trusted professional to help.
That said, many water heater problems are a simple fix you can do yourself with a little know-how. For example, you might just need to relight the pilot or replace the heating element.
5. PIPE PROBLEMS
The pipes in your rental property can freeze, clog, burst, crack, or even become disconnected. While some pipe repairs are going to be too difficult for you to fix on your own, it’s good to equip yourself with some pipe knowledge.
For instance, knowing when the cold winter season is going to hit and when to wrap your property’s pipes to prevent them from freezing is a start. It’s also important you remind your tenants to keep the thermostat set to at least 55°F, even if they’re away for vacation. If your rental property is vacant, keep these tips in mind as well to prevent pipe freezes and property damage.
6. GARBAGE DISPOSALS
The one thing it seems that all people do is try to force too much stuff down the sink drain and into the garbage disposal. In fact, it seems like garbage disposals break all the time. If you get a call from your tenant that the garbage disposal is not working, you can save yourself a lot of time, money, and trouble by knowing how to fix it.
Sometimes, all you need to do is “unstick” it. This often requires you to push the little red reset button on the bottom of the disposal unit under the sink. If it’s the motor, you might have to replace the entire disposal. This can be done by you if you feel comfortable. Otherwise, you might want to hire a reliable handyman.
7. APPLIANCE TROUBLES
When it comes to rental property repairs in Antioch, appliances can give you the most run for your money. After all, there is never one set solution when an appliance goes down.
That said, appliance issues usually boil down to one of these problems:
- Blown fuse
- Broken belt
- Internal blockage
- Worn tubing
- Damaged accessory
Luckily, appliances are usually easier to self-fix than you think. So, before you jump into hiring a handyman that will overcharge on parts and labor, take a look at the user’s manual first. Most of the time, a trip to the local hardware store and a little bit of time replacing the broken part is all your appliance needs.
8. DRYWALL
Many times, you’ll find that your tenants have put a hole in your rental property’s wall. This could be from an angry fight, an accident fall, or even a wall hanging that was a bit too heavy. No matter the cause, drywall fixes are pretty simple.
If your tenant moves out and you find wall damage, save yourself some money by using the security deposit you collected and fixing the hole on your own. With a strong utility knife, some plywood, and a piece of drywall, you’ll have your rental’s walls looking good as new in no time.
9. PESTS
Though not technically a common repair, rodents and pests are something that all property owners need to be on the lookout for. This is especially true when it comes to destructive types like termites.
If you opt not to make rodent and pest control your tenant’s responsibility, you should look into how to prevent rodents and pests from overtaking your property. Of course, you can always hire a pest control service to take care of spraying and trapping. But if you take things into your own hands from the start, it should never get so bad that you need to hire someone to help.
10. ROOF LEAKS
Just like leaky pipes, a leaky roof can come with many major problems if not handled right away. Here are just some of the reasons your property might have a roof leak:
- Worn out materials
- Damaged tiles from extreme weather like rain and wind
- Leaky roof vent gaskets
- Debris like trash, mold, or algae
- Wind damage that creates a roof slope
- Missing shingles
- Holes from debris or fallen trees branches
You may not be able to fix your roof on your own, but being able to locate the source of the leak is going to be half the battle. It also has the potential to save you time and money when the roofer comes to fix the problem you’ve spotted.
11. CAULKING AROUND TUBS, TOILETS, AND SINKS
One of the easiest rental property repairs in Antioch in resealing the caulk that surrounds tubs, toilets, and sinks. That rubbery sealant that was designed to keep water out and prevent mold growth gets old and worn with normal wear and tear.
Removing the old caulk is as easy as using a caulk removal product and peeling it right off. Then, all you have to do is re-caulk the area. It’s just like squeezing a tube of toothpaste at an angle. Now your tubs, toilets, and sinks will look refreshed and you won’t have to deal with water damage.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Are you in need of Antioch property management? If so, contact us today and see how we can help you manage your rental property repairs.
At Blue Line Property Management, we know that handling common rental property repairs in Antioch on your own is often easier than trying to find the perfect handyman for the job. But letting us handle maintenance and repairs for you is even easier. With 24/7 emergency services and full coordination with you before starting any work, you can trust that our property managers will make sure your maintenance and repairs costs are the lowest they can be, but also come with the highest quality workmanship around.
