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Tag: Maintenance

What to Know Before Renting to College Students

Landlords, as a rule, rent their properties to many different subsets of people, including students. However, there are certain things that landlords and property owners must know before renting to students.

Renting to a student is a great way to quickly fill a vacancy, give a young person a chance, and potentially make a difference in the community. The downside is the higher risks associated with this sort of rental. Here is what you need to know before you get started.

The Risks

As mentioned above, there are certain risks associated with renting to students. For example, most students will only need to rent a space seasonally, so renting to them may create vacancies in the summer. Likewise, most students will not have an extended credit history, putting them at higher risk financially.

There are other risks to consider, such as their lack of experience (including a lack of experience paying bills) and potential noise concerns (consider the stereotypical student behavior, and this one is clear). 

Students may also not understand basic tenant responsibilities, such as how to file a maintenance request. This may result in a little problem growing in scale when it otherwise could have been prevented.

The Positives

Don’t worry; there are positives to help balance these additional risks. There is a generally higher demand for student housing, especially near school towns and properties. So filling vacancies shouldn’t be an issue. This has a secondary benefit as it reduces the need for expensive advertising. Word of mouth will do that for you.

Since students have little experience renting properties, they will not go into this process with inflated expectations. In other words, they’ll be happy to get an apartment and won’t demand all the latest bells and whistles. They will happily accept a simple property with no upgrades.

Finally, the possibility of multiple roommates in a property can help to mitigate any financial risk. The more people on the lease, the easier it will be for them to make their monthly payments. As this is a common social expectation for students, frequent arrangements are already in place for this sort of thing.

Lowering Risk

There are additional steps a landlord or property owner can take when renting to students. These steps will help reduce the overall risk. For example, requesting a cosigner or guarantor will minimize the risk of property damage and ensure that the rent gets paid. Likewise, periodic inspections can help spot damage or other repair needs before they become a more significant problem.

Finally, it is critical to set expectations in the lease. This means laying out any rules, regulations, or rules to follow. Doing so in writing will protect you and make it easier for the students to find information as they need it. 

Great Summertime Home Maintenance Tips

Springtime is here, and before you know it Summer will be here as well. With the warmer weather about to hit us in full force, it’s important that our homes are able to withstand the changes that come with it. Keeping up with home maintenance is always a good thing, but there are certain things you should do to make sure your house is in tip-top shape depending on the time of year and where you’re located. With summertime so close, let’s take a look at a few great summertime home maintenance tips.

 

Stop The Bugs!

Summertime means spending more time outside, which means you’ll want to keep your yard free of those pesky insects. One simple way to keep them away is to spray around the perimeter of your yard and your home. You can also use a combination of bug spray and door and window treatments to keep them away. Since so many pests tend to wake up in the summertime, you may want to consider recaulking your doors and windows to make sure the bugs don’t get into your home as well.

 

Power Wash Time!

One of the easiest things to do during your summertime home maintenance is using a pressure washer to clean areas such as your driveway, patio, or deck. After giving these areas a full inspection, you can then wash away all of the dirt and grime that have accumulated over the past year. You can rent a pressure washer for around $40 a day at a local home improvement store if you don’t own one.

 

Prep The Grill

Before you start preparing your grill for the summer season, you’ll want to make sure it’s sanitary after a year of just sitting around. For gas grills, you can heat it up for around 20 minutes and then scrub the outer surface with a grill brush. For charcoal grills, you can use a bucket of hot water and a sponge to get rid of any debris that’s blocking the hoses. Also, make sure that the grill is placed away from any flammable objects.

 

Wash Windows and Replace Screens

Getting your windows cleaned isn’t enough if you don’t also wash their screens. To get the job done, remove the old screens and use hot water to scrub them.

If your screens are too dirty to be cleaned, you might want to replace them. While you’re at it, inspect your doors and windows to make sure they’re properly sealed. Doing so will keep the cool air in your home and keep the warm air out.

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Winter Home Maintenance Tips

It is essential to make sure that you maintain your home well throughout the winter. No matter what time of the winter it is, checking the various areas of your home on a regular basis can help you avoid an emergency when temperatures drop.

Repair or Replace Gutters

It is vital to keep the gutters on your home clean and repaired when needed. Clearing out your gutters to make sure they drain properly is a great way to ensure that your roof, foundation, and landscaping are all well cared for during the winter.

Make Sure Window Wells are Clean

If you have window wells for the basement of your home, it is essential to make sure that they are easily accessed from the inside and outside. Cleaning them out periodically and making sure the windows are easy to open are good safety measures.

Clean Your Dryer Vents

It is essential to maintain dryer vents to start fires if they get clogged. Adding this cleaning to your monthly home maintenance calendar will ensure that the vent is always clean and less of a fire hazard.

Make Sure Your Heating System Runs Efficiently

Having an issue with your heating system during the winter is never fun. Consider having your heating system inspected to ensure that it runs efficiently and doesn’t need minor repairs. If you know there is a problem, it will probably worsen during the winter because your system is under more stress. It can also save you money in the future if you get the more minor issues taken care of right away.

Get a Plumber to do an Annual Check

Having your sewer lines checked and your water pipes insulated is vital during the winter because having a plumbing problem in the winter is much more of a hassle. You can get a plumber to inspect the pipes in your home to make sure everything is working correctly, and there are no clogs that will worsen when it is cold.

Have Your Roof Checked

During the winter months, it is easy for a home to have excess ice or ice dams that form on the home, which can cause damage to the home. To avoid this, it is crucial to ensure that your attic is well insulated and you don’t already have damage to your roof.

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