If you are an Agua Dulce rental property investor who likewise turns out to have a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you manage many of your property maintenance tasks manually. While quite a few property maintenance and repairs are harmless for the do-it-yourself landlord, some carry higher risks. When it comes to electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. That’s why, even do-it-yourself rental property owners should learn how to avoid many of the hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are numerous reasons why property owners want to do their property maintenance and repairs themselves. From time to time, you are trying to save money by solving simple problems. Sometimes you feel better knowing you did the work yourself. And sometimes, you just love it. But for plumbing and electrical tasks, it is important to know which repairs you can safely do yourself and when it’s smarter to hire a licensed professional.
Concerning electricity, the more you know, the safer you are. Simple maintenance tasks like replacing light bulbs, outlets, and breakers can often be completed quickly and safely. You can avoid harming someone as long as you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Still, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Even if you think you’ve shut down the power, you might be mistaken. And if you aren’t completely sure about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can result in you electrocuting yourself or cause an electrical fire. Either way, instead of saving yourself some money, you’ve now created new, more costly problems – and perhaps endangered your tenants as well. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
The same thing is true for plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like changing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Particularly if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes shouldn’t take too much time or skill.
Though, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. When your tenant calls you in a panic over a broken pipe, a backed-up drain, or malfunctioning garbage disposal, this is not the time to try and figure out how to fix it yourself. The longer water is flowing unchecked into your rental home, the more damage it will cause. As a property owner, you need to address urgent plumbing repairs in the most professional, most efficient way possible. And the majority of the time, that means calling a plumber who can give high-quality service.
Even if you aren’t facing an urgent situation, sometimes calling an electrician or plumber is still the best and wisest choice. Although it will probably need more money than if you did the work yourself, it’s important to keep in mind that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for every job, and can complete the work more quickly and efficiently. All things considered, it might be best to hire someone to handle all of the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To avoid the bother of finding a maintenance team, contact the Agua Dulce property management professionals at Real Property Management Traditions and ask about our services.
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