Colorado is a year-round vacation destination for travelers. It offers snow and sun, and everything in between. If you’ve been renting your Colorado property for the ski season, here’s what you should be looking at to transition the home for the warmer months ahead.
Preparing Your Rental Home for Summer
Both short-term and long-term rentals need routine maintenance to keep them in good shape, and to avoid more costly repairs down the road. Make it a habit to go through the following checklist for your rental when the temperatures start to rise.
Check the Air Conditioning
Whether you have window units or a stand-alone air conditioning system, give it a once-over before your tenants need to cool off. Both types of air conditioning units need to have their air filters checked and/or replaced at least every 90 days. This means if your unit was used all last summer, it’s definitely time to put in a new one for another season of use.
AC coils should also be cleaned, and you may need to hire an HVAC technician to drain and refill the condenser if it isn’t running as cold as it should be. AC maintenance not only provides a comfortable environment for your tenants, but it can save on utility bills because everything’s running properly. If you don’t already have a smart thermostat to help regulate the AC and heating in your rental, consider investing in one to further reduce the cost to cool and heat the property.
Clean the Ducts
While you’re giving the AC a once-over, have the ductwork cleaned. Remove any buildup after a winter of running the furnace, and help get rid of any potential irritants that may aggravate allergies. If you allow pets in your rental property, this is an especially helpful spring cleaning tip! While you’re at it, have the dryer vent thoroughly cleaned as well.
Look for Leaks
As the winter snow melts, check the attic and foundation for any signs of leaks. The last thing you want is to miss a vulnerable area of your home and then have it flood when the sprinklers or spring rains hit.
SIGNS OF A LEAKY ROOF
- Water spots on the ceiling or the walls
- Mold growth in the attic or along the roofline outside
- Frozen nails on the underside of the roof
SIGNS OF A LEAKY FOUNDATION
- Water spots on the walls
- Mold growth on basement walls
- Rusted or rotted tack strips under carpet
Not catching a leak can lead to more extensive and expensive problems, so be sure you’re looking out for any signs of water damage both inside and outside your rental property.
Wake the Yard
If you don’t have a Homeowner’s Association taking care of the yard at your Colorado rental property, it’s nearly time to get out there yourself and get your hands dirty. If you applied fertilizer in the fall, you can probably wait until May, or even June, to reapply. However, when the trees start to bloom in March or April, it’s time to rake, aerate, and mow the lawn.
To give helpful bugs such as bees, dragonflies, and ladybugs time to continue their winter hibernation, wait until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees to remove yard waste from your flower beds. This debris is serving as a shelter for pollinators, and removing it prematurely can kill them off and have repercussions for your plants.
You may be able to put off watering the lawn of your Colorado rental home until April, but you should still check your sprinkler system for any broken heads or leaking pipes once temperatures are consistently above freezing.
Ward off Pests
Now, we just mentioned the good bugs you want to have in your yard. Unfortunately, warmer temperatures also invite less favorable pests into your yard and home. When you’re doing a perimeter sweep to check for leaks, also check for vegetation, a woodpile, or anything else piled up that could attract bugs. Remove anything around your home’s exterior, including standing water from drain pipes, to prevent pests from thinking it’s an invitation for them to set up camp.
If you have a problem with beetles, ants, or spiders finding respite in your rental property, consult with an expert pest control company in your area. Get set up on routine preventative maintenance for warding off pests, and deal with an infestation as soon as you’re aware of it. No one wants to come back from the sunny trails to a house that’s just as full of bugs as the mountains themselves!
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
When you own a rental property, it’s imperative to regularly check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home. Ideally, smoke and CO detectors should be checked monthly to ensure they’re functioning. The batteries should be switched out at least once every year. Spring is a good time for an annual battery refresh of all detectors in your rental home.
Ski Colorado Vacation Rentals can take care of property maintenance for you, whether it’s prepping for spring or winter. We manage vacation properties in Breckenridge so you can enjoy the benefits of having a second home without all the hassle. If we can be of service when it comes to maintenance and cleaning, give us a call at 970-223-1805, or contact us HERE today.