Maintenance, Improvements and Repairs

Select an article from the list below.

Is Your Rental Winter-Ready? - From Web Surf News December 5, 2011

How SAFE is your rental? - From Web Surf News October 25-31, 2011

Finding Pipelines Near You

Tenant Education 101 - Teach Your Tenants How to Avoid Toilet Clogs!  From Web Surf News August 9-16, 2011

A Home Owner's Guide to Buying a New Roof. This treatise (it's more than just an article) will help you determine when you need a new roof, what type is best for your building, and how to find a competent and honest contractor.

Are You Haunted By Carpet Ghosts?   Carpet ghosts are discolorations that mysteriously appear in new carpeting, particularly lighter colored material.  It is most noticeable in newer construction but can appear anywhere and shows up first at doorways and along walls.  This describes what causes this phenomenon and how to deal with it when your tenant complains that the new carpet is “no good.” 

Blacktop And Beyond .  This article, really a collection of pages, outlines driveway repair and replacement options.

Can Home Inspections Be Perfect? No.  Home inspection is a process of risk reduction, not risk elimination.  If you employ an inspector to go over your next purchase, be aware of what is likely to be missed. 

Can Pesticide Foggers Be Dangerous?   Of course they can.  If you use them, follow the directions that come with the article. 

Ceiling Q's and A's . A wealth of information on the ceilings in your rental unit, including tips on making minor repairs to many types of them.

Controlling Moles in the Home Lawn.   A brief primer on dealing with the moles that are damaging your lawn.

Cracked Basement Floor .  How to tell if the cracks in your basement floor are minor or harbingers of a major problem, and what to do about them. 

Do You Have Enough Power Available For Your Tenants? To keep your units filled and attractive to new tenants you may need to address the problem of insufficient power resources.

Home Owner's Guide To Buying a New Roof, A .   Not only does this article compare the different types of roofing systems and materials, it also covers roof design, causes of roof deterioration, how to select a roofing contractor.  This is a must read for anyone with a new roof in his immediate future. 

How to Hire Construction Managers .  If you are confronted with a major repair or improvement job, managing it yourself may take too much time and overtax your expertise.  If so, learn how to select someone to manage the job for you and how to deal with him.

How To Make Simple Toilet Repairs .   Toilets are high strung, mechanical, and frequently used.  For these reasons they require frequent attention.  A plumber is rarely required, however.  You might save a good deal of money by doing minor toilet repairs yourself.  Here you will find all the information you need to deal with most toilet problems. 

How To Prevent Basement Leaks .  Learn to recognize the signs of a leaky basement in a prospective purchase, and how to correct the problem if you already have a chronically wet basement.

Interior Painting. If you do the prep work on your rental units yourself, check this article for instructions on how to get a durable, professional looking interior paint job.

Making Apartments More Secure .  This article describes things you can do to make your rental units more secure and why it is in your interest, legally and financially, to do it. 

“O” Marks the Pot .   It is possible to remove water rings left by your tenant on the hardwood floors, but it is not always easy. 

Patching Holes in Drywall . Holes, dents, and dings in drywall are a recurring feature of just vacated rental units that need to be readied for showing and reletting.  This is an fine article on dealing with these problems, accompanied with excellent illustrations.  Be sure to follow the links in the right margin. 

Refinishing School .  A dull, worn out wood floor does not make a very good tenant magnet.  This article shows how to do it and how easy it is.

Renewing Concrete Surfaces .  How to repair worn and cracked concrete without a bulldozer.

Repairing a Large Hole In Wallboard .   If you do cleanup and preparation of your rental units yourself, you will eventually come across a hole in wallboard that is too large to be filled with joint compound.  Find out how to deal with the problem.

Rubber Roofing’s Hurtful Bounce.   If you are contemplating one of the new “rubber” or single ply roof systems, or if your rental has one, this article is a must-read. 

Spiders In and Around the House.   Distribute this article to your tenants if they start having a spider problem.

Vapor Barriers and Dealing with Moisture. This is an informative q&a with practical tips on dealing with unwanted moisture in various parts of your structure. It should help you deal with mold.

What Property Managers Should Expect From Carpet and Vinyl Installers - Excerpt from the book Landlord Floors by Alan J. Fletcher

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