Commercial properties have a specific set of needs each season. In the spring, it’s all mostly about landscaping and potential repairs to the roof after winter. In the summer, the focus turns to air conditioners and pest control. In the fall, gutter cleaning, tree trimming and furnace tune-ups are the priority. But what about winter?
If you’re a property manager, here are some tips to help you stay on top of maintaining your properties during the cold-weather months.
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Inspect your properties NOW.
Santa makes a list and checks it twice… you should do the same. Complete your maintenance inspections while you can and prepare a maintenance checklist in order of priority. Make sure you check the roof, steps, gutters, chimneys, windows, railings and anything else that may be impacted by the cold weather. Don’t forget to think about fire prevention, either. Heating is the second-leading cause of property fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). So make sure you double-check those smoke detectors and heaters!
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Fix any problems quickly.
It’s important to address any issues quickly for two reasons: one, they can get worse sooner in harsh weather; and two, there’s more likely to be an accident involving your tenant or maintenance team if you don’t address them. This is especially true if your property is in an area that gets significant snowfall, as ice or snow can potentially block access to the maintenance problem. The best-case scenario is to fix any maintenance problems before winter even hits in the first place.
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Make sure you have plenty of de-icing products.
Get prepared for icy sidewalks and walkways by stocking up on anti-icing and melting products. As the names indicate, anti-icing products will help you prevent snow and ice from building up, while de-icing products will melt them if they’ve already built up. Make sure you have a steady supply of salts, chemicals and anything else you might need to address ice or snow buildup.
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Get someone lined up to remove snow.
Don’t wait until the last minute to perform your maintenance checklist and don’t wait until the last minute for someone to remove your snow, either. Get your snow-clearing contractor lined up now. Their calendars will quickly book when snow falls, so if you reserve their time now, you’ll be able to stay on top of snow removal and be first in line for their services.
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Keep a record of maintenance changes.
Make sure you’re tracking any maintenance changes and improvements, as there will likely be a lot of them and you need to accurately record your expenses on your taxes. It’s wise to invest in property management software, as it will allow you to take notes and record maintenance changes in one place with any maintenance documentation. Property management software like Quarem can even send you critical maintenance date reminders and help you stay on top of maintenance including winter preparation with ease.
If you’d like to see how property management software like Quarem can help you stay on top of maintenance and other aspects of property management during the winter (and beyond), request a demo today!
