When investing in rental properties, homeowners or investors typically have two options. They can buy a property that they can rent out as a full-time home, or they can buy a property that can be converted into a vacation rental. Each has its inherent advantages and disadvantages and it will be up to the landlord which option is best for their situation.
For example, when it comes to vacation rental properties, the owner has to deal with the off-season or that time of year when the property sits idle. During the winter, for example, you can’t expect people to rent out your property for obvious reasons. At this time of year, you run the risk of leaving your property to the mercy of nature if you don’t know how to prepare it for the coming cold.
In this article, we’ll look at things you can do to make sure your rental property gets through the winter unscathed. First of all, you need to ensure that rainwater is diverted from the house as quickly as possible. This means that you must clean the gutters so that the water drains easily.
During the winter, wind and ice storms can cause severe damage to any property when trees are involved. Therefore, you must prune the branches of the trees near your property. This would reduce the risk of the branch crashing during a hard ice storm. If the property has a satellite dish installed on the roof or in any similar elevated location, be sure to unplug it and store it safely inside the property.
If the property uses propane or natural gas, be sure to turn it off in preparation for winter. If you’re not sure how to do it, don’t hesitate to call professionals. The small cost of commissioning the work is a good investment, as it would reduce the risk of significant and costly damage to your property. Bonus tip for cutting costs: Stop newspaper delivery during the off-season. You would only be paying extra when there would be no one there to use the reading material provided.
It’s imperative that you protect your investment as a landlord, and screening potential tenants isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. You should also look to protect the property even out of season.