Getting Ready for Summer

Our Top Recommendations!!

Ensuring that your asset continues to grow in value is what owning an investment property is all about. This is why ongoing and regular maintenance is absolutely imperative. Below are our top tips for pre-summer maintenance which will not only benefit your property/s long term condition but make for a positive and conducive relationship with your tenants. Your efforts in proactively maintaining your property to high standard in between seasons help us to ensure your tenants continue looking after your property to the same level. 

1. Service your air conditioning system/s

An air conditioner is a very tough piece of equipment. It is engineered to withstand heavy use & keep on running. This is great in most respects, but it can lead to complacency about maintenance. Like a car, air conditioners need regular tune-ups to run properly. Studies show that with regular tune-ups a unit will maintain up to 95% of its original efficiency. If you have a system with covers, ensure these are removed prior to summer!

2. Reticulation systems and Bores

Due to water restrictions and bans during winter, it is a good idea to check your bore and reticulation systems are running and programmed correctly. Sometimes when systems and/or bores aren’t used for long periods of time problems can arise, especially if they are quite old to start with. It’s advisable to have a professional check and reset it to ensure no problems during the summer, which can be both more costly and have long waiting lists.

3. Pool/spa health – how’s yours travelling?

Like reticulation, pools aren’t used much during the winter so it’s a good idea to have a health check done by a professional prior to summer. For those who include pool maintenance in their lease your contractor will do this for you. For those who don’t, having a health check done is a great best practice strategy that will help ensure your pool is well maintained and healthy over summer and save you money down the track as potential maintenance issues can be picked up and solved early on, before the summer price hikes.

4. Mulch/wood chip garden beds to aid in water retention & presentation 

This isn’t a maintenance tip as such, more a recommendation. Properties with quite involved gardens or garden beds may benefit from an annual prune/tidy up and fresh mulching. This prepares it for the dry summer we have. This isn’t an owner requirement (unless stipulated in your lease) however it provides you with peace of mind they are in good order and prepared for summer, as although it may be your tenants responsibility to maintain them, if they fail in this it can be a long way back. An annual garden tidy can be the good faith gesture that encourages your tenant to ensure they continue to look after them well.

5. Oil your deck and outdoor furniture

Unless your decking timber is painted or treated, it’s important to oil it every three to six months. Good oil will enhance the natural grain of the timber and make it look lustrous in the summer sunshine. If you have decking give your property manager a call to organise for it to be oiled.