Handyman Tasks for Every Landlord

If you want to gain more rental income as a landlord, you need to be serious with the maintenance needs of your rental property. That is true, whether your property is new or old. From time to time, you will need to inspect for faulty components or tackle emergency repairs. For this reason, every landlord should have the necessary tools, skills, and knowledge.

Some landlords may prefer a hands-off approach. Doing so will be less stressful. However, there are some advantages if you do it by yourself. You can handle emergency repairs when a handyman is not around. Also, you will save most of your rental income instead of spending it on repairs.

Note that we do not advise you to handle all the repairs. There are specific repairs that require professional attention. In this article, we will explain the handyman tasks you can perform as a landlord. Below are the common ones.

1.      Basic plumbing tasks

There are simple plumbing tasks you can handle as a landlord. These include sinks or tubs, faucet leaks, and other minor leaks. If your tenants are complaining of increasing water bills, then there is a possibility that you have plumbing leaks. As a landlord, you can inspect your plumbing system for leaks.

Leaking faucets are easy to fix. Most times, all you have to do is disassemble them and replace worn washers or gaskets. You can follow the instructions on how to do this by reading the manufacturer’s manual or by watching some how-to videos online.

Apart from leaks, other basic plumbing tasks you can perform are unclogging of drains and toilets. You can do this by plunging, using a drain snake, or disassembling the P-trap to remove the blockade.

The tools you need to perform your basic plumbing are a bell-shaped toilet plunger, drain snake, slip-lock pliers, sink and toilet augers, and a multi-driver. It is also essential to know where you can shut off the water supply to the entire property. That is because there are some leaks you may not be able to handle by yourself. In such situations, you have to shut off the water supply and invite your plumber.

2.      HVAC maintenance

The heating and cooling of your rental property are crucial because it promotes the habitability of the house. For that reason, you need to maintain it and prevent frequent breakdowns. If your HVAC system develops a fault, the best option is to invite a professional and this may incur more expenses.

To prevent frequent breakdowns of your HVAC system, you can do the following regularly:

• Oil the fan motors
• Change the air filters
• Clean the refrigerator coils
• Change faulty heat sensors and thermocouples

The essential tools you need for these are pliers, spanners, crescent wrench, and multi-driver.

3.      Assess electrical detectors

Inspecting the electrical detectors is another easy task that landlords can perform. You can assess the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to know if they are functioning. It is essential to maintain them and also ensure that they are reliable. Use the self-test function and replace dead batteries.

4.      Electrical switch and outlet repairs

If you have short circuits, invite your electrician to help you fix them. The same goes for flickering and dimming lights. However, you can repair your electrical outlet or switch cover. To do this, you need to turn off the power supply to the circuit, remove the switch or outlet cover, and replace the switch or tighten any loose connection.

The tools you will need include a wire splicing tool, voltage tester, multi-driver, and pliers. Always invite a professional electrician for repairs that are beyond your skills.

5.      Painting

Being a landlord actually allows you to learn new skills. One of them is painting. As a landlord, you can research various types of paints and primers. Also, you may need to watch some videos online that illustrate how to paint a house.

We advise that you leave the exterior painting for professionals. You can handle the interior painting by yourself because it is not as technical as the exterior. The tools you will need here include a paint tray, painter’s tape, drop cloth, paint roller, brush, and paint roller extension pole.

6.      Pest control

Pests are unwanted tenants that can destroy your rental property and prevent it from being habitable. The responsibility of pest control is for both the tenant and landlord. The tenant has to keep the rental property clean so that pests will not find it attractive. Also, the landlord is responsible for eradicating pests from the property.

Some pest infestations require hiring professional exterminators, for instance, termite infestations. However, you can tackle minor pest infestation by sealing entry points with caulk, setting traps, or baiting.

The bottom line

If you want to enjoy more rental income and protect your investment, you need to be serious with the maintenance. Landlords that have the skill and free time can handle some of these tasks by themselves. But if you don’t, it’s best to hire a professional.