Okay! Now you are a Landlord/Landlady and it calls for celebration ‘clicks glasses’. Well done! You did it! Yes, you deserve the peace and tranquility that comes with taking control of your own personal space. It can be such a morale boost and is even empowering.
So now, let’s step away from that for a bit and get real. The buying period of inspections, dealing with agents, and finalizing documentation is over and you are now faced with one little detail – reinforcing safety for your new property. This is an important next step whether you plan to occupy your property immediately, sometime later, or lease it out.
Feeling overwhelmed? Not to worry, we have put together some basic security tips to ease your stress. These tips are also valid for rented and lease properties;
1. Change the Locks
Chances are other prospective buyers have viewed the property before you. There is no telling the breach in security that may arise from this. Therefore, it is best that you implement access control to your property by changing the locks. At the very least, ensure to change the locks at the exterior entrances. You may choose to leave the inside locks. That way, access is granted to your property only at your instance.
2. Check the Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms
It is compulsory that every home has a smoke detector or fire alarm installed, especially with the increasing number of fire incidents and domestic gas explosions. If these were not pre-installed, please arrange for this immediately. If they were pre-installed at construction, check the batteries and manually test them to make sure they function properly.
As part of routine home maintenance requirements, it is advisable to check your smoke detectors and fire alarms at least once every year. Do not forget to keep at least one fire extinguisher handy, starting from your kitchen.
3. Locate your Main Water Valve/Switch
It is safe to say that without water, it is impossible for us to run our homes or even survive. The water valve/switch should typically be located outside the living area of the house. Check to make sure it turns off properly to avoid leakage. If your property is not newly built, you might want to change the valve to keep everything at its best performance. It is advisable to invite a plumber to do this professionally.
4. Find your Circuit Breaker Box
Your breaker box is your electricity box. It controls the electricity supply to your property and must be in good condition at all times. In cases of emergency, you will need to know how to shut down electricity in your from the breaker box before a professional arrives.
Familiarize yourself with it and for best practice, label all the breakers in the box to avoid mix-ups. It could be located in the interior or exterior of the property, depending on the design.
A good tip for maintaining the breaker box is to create a dedicated lock for it.
5. General Cleaning
Cleaning is an exercise that will continue for as long as the house exists. You might be wondering why this is a safety tip? Cleaning the house clears out the space, and reveals any harmful hidden details like leaky pipes, rotten wood, rodents, and such. It also gives you a true sense of the space. You should also consider fumigation to rid the property of rodents, pests, and other unwanted animals.
We hope these tips have helped you as a new landlord or landlady. To make the maintenance process easier, consider creating a list and scheduling recurring appointments with competent vendors ahead.
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