If you’ve invested in property and you’re now a landlord, it’s important that you take good care of your place. This is important not only so that you can be a good landlord to your tenants, but also because it will save you money and protect your investment.

With that in mind, here are some of the most important preventative property maintenance tasks you’ll need to undertake if you want to save money now and in the long-term.

Choose Responsible Tenants

First and foremost, you should make it your mission in life to screen for responsible tenants who will look after the place. If you do this AND you make it clear that you’ll be happy to hear from them whenever they have a problem, no matter how minor it is, you’ll always be able to fix small issues before they become costly problems.

Schedule Monthly Exterminations

Whether you have a problem with pests or not, taking the time to schedule a monthly visit from the local extermination company will help you to keep on top of things and stop infestations from happening. When you do this, it’s important that you cover the entirety of the building because pests are pretty good at finding a way in – it’s your job not to give them one.

Do a Regular Leak Check

Around once every three months, you should head off to any properties you own to inspect for tell-tale signs of water damage, such as leaks, pooling water or soft spots in the ceilings, floors and brickwork. Additionally, after periods of heavy rain, snow or serious storms, you should make extra checks to ensure that a small water-based problem doesn’t become a huge, much more expensive one.

Check for Cracks

At least a couple of times a year, you should inspect your rental properties for cracks. If there are cracks in the walls, flooring roof or any other major part of the property’s structure, you will need to call in concrete repair contractors or other appropriate handymen to deal with the problem immediately. Small cracks might not have much of an impact, but left as they are, they will get bigger, and the very fabric of your property could be at risk of falling apart.

Inspect Grout and Caulking

Often overlooked, caulking and grout is an important part of any property. If it becomes loose, then baths can become loose. Tiles can fall off, and windows and door frames can become drafty and more likely to let in leaks or start to degrade. So, check it on a regular basis and replace when necessary.

Check the Detectors

At least twice a year, you should take the time to test that any fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, etc., are in full working order. If they are not, then not only could you end up with a property that’s completely gutted, but more importantly, you could be putting your tenants at great risk and may even face lawsuits or imprisonment, depending on the laws where you are.

It might take a little more time and effort, but taking these preventative maintenance measures will protect you, your property, and your tenants, as well as your wallet.