Preparing Your NYC Rental Property For the Fall Season

The weather is finally changing in New York City.  We have gone from the lazy days of Summer with sweltering heat to gradual changes in temperature that will eventually result in freezing temperature entering the holiday season.  With these changes also comes additional responsibilities for the New York City property manager.  We believe that there are several inspections that can be performed that will potentially save you from headaches and money in the future.

The beautiful changes in the colors of the leaves also means that a bountiful amount of them will begin falling onto your property and around it. The leaves can sometime clog gutters which can result in damage to the roof of the property, excess flooding and water damage in general.  Doing an inspection of the gutters and roof is an important objective for the property management company.  The beginning of autumn is the start of hurricane season and we have seen from Hurricane Sandy that the New York City metropolitan area can be affected by it.  What the inspector should be looking for are leaks and destroyed and/or damaged shingles on the roof.  The inspector should also be looking for gutters that are in disrepair and potential clogging.

The second issue that needs to be addressed is the heating of the premises.  As we know, there is a dramatic change in temperatures here in New York City.  One week we will see beautiful 80-degree temperatures and within 7 days have seen changes of temps of up to 40 degrees.

With these changes in the weather, property management companies should do an annual heating checkup.  This includes inspecting the boiler, water heater as well as the furnace.  By doing this, you can troubleshoot any issues that may arise when the cold weather hits.  Troubleshooting issues can potentially save you money in energy costs by remediating anything that is in disrepair. It is also important to inspect the chimney to see if there are any issues there.  Annual cleanings are sometimes necessary and it will give you an opportunity of clearing any debris that has accumulated during the year.

Finally, your inspection should be focused on the exterior of the premises.  Falling trees and limbs can create hazards with heavy rains and increased storm winds.  You should determine what portions of the tree is healthy for these conditions.  If the entire tree needs to be taken down then it should be considered as well.  Hiring a professional landscaper that has expertise in tree services can assist you if you are not familiar with what would constitute unhealthy tree conditions.  They will be able to inspect, trim or remove if they see what can potentially be a costly condition for your property and tenants.

Taking preventative measures early in the fall season can save yourself and landlords time and money in the long run.  If you are in need of an experienced NYC property management company for your rental property that can assist your preparing for the Fall Season than Blue Harbour Property Management might be for you.  We are an experienced property management company servicing Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx.

http://www.blueharbourpropertymanagement.com/preparing-nyc-rental-property-fall-season/