In this video the RL team walks a rental property in Columbus, Ohio to identify some issues you might consider with a rental property you currently own or are looking to purchase. Each of these issues, although seemingly minor at quick glance, can result in substantial costs for the investor.
In this video we identify several areas for consideration including:
- Carpet – Prospective residents are going to notice and be turned off by:
- Worn carpet
- Unsightly carpet
- Stained carpet
- Odors from the carpet
- Windows – These can present many issues for the investor:
- Quality and function of the windows
- Tenants do look for more modern, more energy efficient windows
- Do they open/close/lock easily and properly. There are many components that can go bad on a window
- Are all Screens installed – Housing code typically requires them
- Doors – A common maintenance request and issue:
- Do they open/close/latch properly
- No Rubbing or dragging
- Neighbor problems:
- Unsightly adjacent properties both next door and on the street will present issues with leasing
- Construction short-cuts:
- A shaved down door that was not painted afterwards. What other shortcuts exist in the property?
- Ceilings:
- Evidence of roach waste
- Previous leaks or other irregularities. Prospective residents will notice and you should address before they do
- Bathroom:
- Dated flooring, vanity , toilet, medicine cabinet, light fixtures
- All fixtures including sinks and toilets working,
- Plumbing looks OK, shower stall loose head piping, valve piping secure, tub spout secure and divertor working
- Kitchen:
- All knobs and pulls tight, cabinet shelves and hinges in order
- Cleanliness, grease on cabinet doors and drawer fronts
- Range functionality, all parts present
- Refrigerator functionality, all parts present
- Sink, sprayer and dishwasher functionality
- Plumbing in order
- Wiring and GFCI outlets proper
- Appropriate finishes (no carpet on floor)
- Main living spaces:
- Appealing layout
- Fireplace brick troubles (expensive!)
- Non-durable but inexpensive laminate flooring
- Basement:
- Air sealing of windows, installing glass block windows for security
- Breaker panels, avoid or replace push-o-matic and pacific breaker panels
- Water intrusion, sometimes challenging and expensive to fix (A common reason to “dump” or sell a rental property)
- Do not provide washer/dryers to residents
- Check that hookups for washer/dryers are working and properly set-up
- Electrical all terminated and installed correctly throughout
- Hot water tank (HWT) – Just replace if over 12 years old, it’s not worth the risk
- Furnaces – easy filter changes should be possible for best results
- Main water meter – good working main water shut-off valve, proper support for piping and meter, water service line age and freezing and clogging and flow capacity
- Main drain piping stack and sewer lines – Problems with clay pipe, galvanized piping, have main sewer line camera-ed and cleaned.
If you are looking for a team that has several decades of experience identifying and dealing with issues like these, do not hesitate to reach out to us.
RL Property Management Group, the only property management company in Columbus started and run by engineers. Our clients enjoy a premium property management experience without paying a premium price. RL Property Management is designed for reliability and performance.
